#RoyaiHalloween18

[royaihalloween]

Royai Halloween 2018!

It’s the best time of year again and that also means it’s time for Royai Halloween week! This year it will run from Saturday October 6 through Saturday October 13.

Make sure to tag your work with RoyaiHalloween18 or tag us @royaihalloween so we can reblog it!

The prompts for this year are:

October 6 - Haunted

October 7 - Full Moon

October 8 - Masquerade

October 9 - Hallowed

October 10 - Tombstone

October 11 - Monsters

October 12 - Spirits

October 13 - Fear

The prompts are really just guidelines for those that might not have any ideas. If you want to create something that doesn’t fit with any of the prompts, that’s totally fine! As long as it has something to do with Royai and Autumn or Halloween, we’ll reblog it.

Have fun! We can’t wait to see what you all come up with this year!

[liberty-flight]

Royai Halloween 2018

October 11-Monsters

They’re back from the dead and are not happy

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Tombstone

Read on Ao3: Here

The Five People Riza Lost, and the Only One Who Mattered

1.

Riza is a little girl when her mother passes away. She doesn’t quite understand it. Father simply says mother is sick, and that she’s going away. Riza asks if they’ll ever see her again, and Father says no. His voice is brusque and if Riza didn’t know better, she’d think he was going to cry. But Father never cries, and Riza doesn’t cry either. She is too young to really understand death.

2.

Riza is nearly seventeen when her father passes. His death had been expected, his health in constant decline for years. Still, she is shocked as she stands in front of the simple gravestone. It doesn’t quite make sense. This is death. Death is permanent. This is what happened to her mother so many years ago.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s… I’ll be fine.”

“Riza. He was your father.”

“And he was your teacher. Are you alright?”

She glances at Roy Mustang’s confused face. He wasn’t expecting his words thrown back at him, she can tell.

“I’m… Your father was a good man.”

Riza laughs, and she can tell by his face it’s the wrong response.

“Let’s go home, Roy. Please. I don’t… like it here.”

“Well… Alright then.”

3.

Maes’ funeral is shocking. He’s so young, and it’s a murder. Riza stands there right behind Roy, trying to hold her tears in. She remains behind when everyone leaves the funeral. Roy is there too, tears streaming down her face. Riza doesn’t comment. She understands that everyone handles grief differently.

“Let’s go, Roy. Standing here won’t bring him back.”

“I know that, Riza.”

“Come on. We’ll go to your aunt’s. We’ll have a drink in his honor.”

“Yeah… Let’s do that.”

4.

Roy’s inauguration to the office of Fuhrer is scheduled for the day after Grumman’s funeral. His last few years, Riza had grown close with her only living family member. He had walked her down the aisle at her and Roy’s wedding. The wedding she’d never thought she’d get to have.

“Riza are you alright?”

“I’m… Is this how it’s supposed to feel? Empty?”

“Yeah, Riza. Yeah, it is.”

5.

It’s the first time Riza’s cried after losing someone. Hayate had been one of the only constants in her life. Roy’s arm wraps around her shoulder, and she hides her head in his shirt.

“Hey, Riza. It’s okay. I’m here.”

“H-he was… I-I…”

“I know,” Roy murmurs. “It’s hard. I know it is.”

“He’s gone, Roy. H-he’s gone and I don’t know what to do.”

“Just breathe. We’ll figure it out, okay?”

6.

“You weren’t supposed to do this, Roy. You were supposed to be here to help me.”

She sits next to the tombstone. It’s simple, plain. Just like he wanted. She’d never been good at handling the emotions. She didn’t know what do. She missed her Roy.

“Riza… What are you doing out here?”

Riza looked up. Rebecca was there, her hair now streaked with grey.

“I… I’m not ready to let go.”

“I know.”

“How do you let go? How do you… How do you handle it?”

“You… Don’t. It never gets easier.”

Riza sighs. “I… I’ll go back eventually. I just… need a little more time.”

“Yeah. Let me know if I can do anything else to help, okay?”

“Thanks, Becca.”

[by-nina]

The Last Days of Fall

Royai Halloween 2018 | Day 2 – Full Moon Rating: K+ Genre: Romance/Fluff Word Count: 1,090 @royaihalloween

No one speaks again until they arrive at the train station, and the first thought that enters Roy’s mind is a guilty wish for the trip to have lasted longer, or for spring to come quickly—or for him to not have to leave at all.

At sunset, the last rays of daylight reach through the window of the Hawkeye manor’s guest bedroom. The accompanying, already familiar shift from warmth to coldness awakens Roy, and he stirs from the bed, fully dressed, limbs aching in protest over the stiff position he had slept in. His clothes had at least avoided getting rumpled; that’s one less thing to mind.

           As he rises, he takes one last, long look at the room he had occupied for the past six months, the first he had spent under Berthold Hawkeye’s tutelage. His luggage stands neatly in the corner, next to the now empty closet and the uncluttered study table. The shelves that stand by the door are only half-cleared, as he had picked out the books he would be taking home to study during the winter break. The surfaces have all been scrubbed clean and buffed to a polish. As a last touch, he smooths out the few wrinkles he had left on his sheets.

          Roy watches the last moments of the sunset through his window. He gets just enough time to see the warm colors of the trees and the fog settling over the mountains in the distance as the light fades away. Even now, he has already begun to miss the view, and he commits it to his mind as much as he can. As much as he would have wanted to stay, the approach of winter is far colder in the East than in Central where Roy grew up, making it difficult for his body. Above all, he remembers his promise to Madame Christmas that he would spend winter at home.

          He closes the window shutters, and a gentle knock comes from the door. “Mister Mustang, are you ready to go?”

          “Coming!”

          Roy gathers his luggage, then drapes his scarf loosely around his neck. He opens the door, and is immediately greeted by the master’s daughter with a small bow of the head. “The carriage just arrived. I’ll be taking you to the train station.”

          “Riza, there’s really no need,” says Roy, his voice almost apologetic as he breaks into a small smile to match. “I’ll be just fine on my own.”

          “This is nothing.” She turns to lead him down the hallway. “I feel responsible for all our guests—you, most of all, since my father has been working so hard with you the past few months.”

          “Oh—thank you. Where is Master Hawkeye?”

          “He’ll see you off at the door.”

          The greetings they exchange outside are short; the master reminds him of the points of alchemy he needs to have read up on by the time he returns, and Roy confirms the date of his return in the spring. By this time, the sky has turned deeper and deeper shades of blue, and stars have begun to appear. Berthold Hawkeye does not wait for the carriage to disappear with his daughter and his student before returning inside the house.

          Bare and seemingly endless for the most part, the view of rolling meadows finally begins to change more than halfway into their hour-long ride to the train station. The road slopes down into a bridge that crosses over a vast, clear lake, one that Roy only barely remembers from his arrival in this town. He leans slightly over the edge of the carriage, taking in as much of the view as he can. It's an unbelievable sight—above anything else, that a town like this even has such a body of water.

          “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

          Roy turns to look at Riza; her eyes have turned dreamlike, almost fond as she stares out at the same view. “We don’t have many bodies of water out here, but what we do have is something else. I wanted to see this tonight, since there aren’t many chances for it.”

          He looks back at the lake, noting the wistful tone of her voice. Roy rarely did ever see her out and about in the time he had spent at her home; Riza had always seemed shy and withdrawn, and it dawns on him that this is the first time they've spoken to each other with more than the usual polite greetings and rudimentary conversation. Somehow, this realization invites him to take a closer look at the details around and within the lake. The trees at the edge glint with what he assumes to be fireflies, despite the temperature dropping with the change of the season. The surface ripples lightly with a cool breeze, and the full moon is reflected there as clearly as though they were looking at the sky itself. All at once, the lake appears more breathtaking than it did at first glance.

          Without thinking, Roy looks at Riza again. The moonlight from both the sky and the reflection in the lake falls beautifully on her face, and although he should be as entranced by the view as she is now, he is unable to tear his eyes away. The breeze blows her hair back just right to show her features in plain view; the wonder on her face highlights her brown eyes most of all.

          He quietly wonders how he didn’t notice them before.

          All too soon, they pass the bridge, and the lake disappears from view. No one speaks again until they arrive at the train station, and the first thought that enters Roy’s mind is a guilty wish for the trip to have lasted longer, or for spring to come quickly—or for him to not have to leave at all.

          “Have a safe trip, Mister Mustang,” says Riza. “See you in a few months.”

          Roy does not find his voice right away; when did her smile become so warm? “Y-yeah. See you in a few months. You take care—and the master, too.”

          Riza is nowhere to be seen by the time he has boarded the train, put away his luggage, and taken his seat by the window. He hasn’t been counting the minutes, but as the train departs, and Roy finds the full moon shining brightly overhead, he thinks of her in the carriage, passing the bridge over the lake once more. The moon is still lovely from where he sits, but it’s nowhere near how it looked above the lake, or on her face.

          He makes two mental notes that night:

          One, to book an evening trip for his return in the spring, so he—they could enjoy that view again;

          Two, to spend the following winter in the Hawkeye manor.

[royaihalloween]

Royai Halloween 2018 might be officially over, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to post something! We’ll reblog works until the 31 so if you wanted to participate and didn’t get a chance, just post your stuff and tag it as “royaihalloween18″ in the first five tags and/or tag us @royaihalloween and we’ll reblog it!

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Fear

Read on Ao3: Here

“I dunno Roy. A haunted house? Isn’t that a bit childish?”

“Riza, it’s a double date. Maes won free tickets. Are you really gonna say no? It’s our first Halloween together… It’ll be so much fun and if you get scared, I’ll be there to hold your hand!”

Riza frowned. She’d never really been to a haunted house. It wasn’t that she was afraid of things. It was just something her father had never seen the appeal of, and her mother was… Well, her mother was scary enough. But Roy had done so many things she had suggested. It was rare they went on a date of his choosing.

“Alright, we can go. But I want to pick where we go for dinner.”

“Yay! Maes’ll be psyched!” Roy practically skipped off. Riza smiled as she watched him leave. He was a goofball, but he made her happy.

***

Roy parked the Mustangmobile in the parking lot of the haunted house, and helped Riza from the car. Maes and Gracia quickly followed. The four of them headed to the entrance, Maes quickly distributing the tickets. Riza held hers tightly, and reached for Roy.

“Scared already? We haven’t even gone in yet,” he teased.

“I’m not scared. I’m worried you’ll get scared. Besides, I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Oh, we’ll see about that. This is supposed to be the scariest haunted house in all of East City.”

“Will you two quit it? We’re about to go in,” Maes responded, glancing over his shoulder at the two of them. “And I for one am not interested in hearing you two bicker all night. I get enough of that on a regular basis.”

“Yeah, Roy. Shut up. Let’s go.”

The four of them were let into the dark foyer of the building. Riza let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She wasn’t afraid of anything. All she wanted was to get through this so that she and Roy could go to a nice dinner. She was ready to get this over with.

They walked through the rooms, Riza laughing at the actors in their costumes. Roy jumped a number of times, and it made the other three of them laugh. Vampires, slasher villains, werewolves, asylum doctors, nothing phased Riza. Everyone was impressed by her fearlessness. Things were going well, until they reached the clown room.

Riza yelped as the first one stepped out. She moved closer to Roy, wrapping both her hands around his arm. She was quick to bury her face in his shoulder as more appeared.

“You okay, Riza?” Roy asked softly, leaning in closer.

“I-I don’t like clowns…”

“O-oh. Okay.” Roy pulled her closer. “C’mon, Riza. I’ll get you out of here.” Roy started to walk Riza through the rest of the house. They were quiet as they raced through the last several rooms. It didn’t take long for them to reach the exit. Riza leaned against Roy as they waited for their friends to get out of the haunted house.

“Wow, what happened with you guys? You were there, and then you were gone.”

“Riza got a little overwhelmed so we had to get out. Did you guys have fun?”

“Oh yeah, lots of fun. But… Riza looks pretty bad. You sure you’re both okay?”

“I just… don’t like clowns,” Riza murmured. “I… freaked out a bit.”

“It’s okay,” Roy murmured. “Now, Riza said we could go to to the haunted house as long as she got to pick where we went for dinner. So c’mon. Back into the Mustangmobile.” Roy started to pull everyone toward the car.

“Scared of clowns, huh, Hawkeye?” Maes asked.

“I just… don’t like them. They’re… weird.”

“And that’s perfectly normal,” Roy replied, stopping Maes before he could continue. Riza smiled, and sank into the seat. This was fine. This was normal. She didn’t need to worry. She was strong, and she had Roy to help her when she was fine. There was nothing for her to fear.

[by-nina]

A Dance With the Devil

Royai Halloween 2018 | Day 3 – Masquerade Rating: K+/T Genre: Drama/Suspense Word Count: 1,389 @royaihalloween

A/N: Now, for something a little different! I mentioned in my last post that this fic was originally supposed to be for Royai Week. But it all worked out, and I’m glad I’ll finally be able to get this out to you guys. I hope you enjoy!

The ball is not a reprieve—not that she had ever expected it to be. It was just another puppet show, with Riza’s strings wearing thin, and Bradley calling the shots.

Her skin is peppered in goosebumps beneath the evening breeze, and her ears ring unpleasantly with each clicking footstep; Riza’s senses are overwhelmed by how different this night is from routine. She has temporarily swapped her uniform for a slender, deep red number with a high leg slit, and her work boots for two-inch ankle strap heels that pinch at her toes and ankles from extended disuse. Thankfully, she can afford to let her face betray at least a little discomfort. Riza puts on a mask adorned with elegant red, orange, and gold swirls, and she climbs up the steps of Führer Bradley’s mansion.

          The year is drawing to a close. That night’s Amestris Military Anniversary Ball will be the first she attends as Bradley’s adjutant—and, I hope, the last, Riza thinks. With their plans in disarray, the ball was dead last on the list of things she even wanted to have on her mind. But Bradley had invited her in front of his wife and Selim, and between courtesy for the Führer’s kind wife and her trepidation towards the two Homunculi, she could not refuse. It was no doubt a way of keeping an eye on her on such a busy night, with the small comfort that he had allowed her to attend independently rather than as his adjutant.

          It is eight in the evening, and the common area of the mansion is filled with guests and music and the faintly delicious smell of catering. Even beneath their colorful adornments, Riza first finds Mrs. Bradley, who also immediately recognizes her. Mrs. Bradley graciously welcomes her with compliments about her dress and the way her hair is let down tonight, and then gushes in a stage whisper how lucky any man would be to have Riza as his partner.

          “Now, now, darling. You’re embarrassing Lieutenant Hawkeye.”

          Bradley appears behind his wife with a glass of wine, smiling as he always does, his regular eyepatch replaced with a dark mask that covers the entire upper left side of his face. Riza promptly salutes. “Sir!”

          “Please, there’s no need. You must enjoy the ball, Lieutenant, it’s so rare for us in the military to have a night like this. Did you not come with a companion?”

          “I’ve attended the ball with close colleagues in the past, Sir.”

          “Of course, you have.”

          Bradley takes a sip of wine, the calculated, thoughtful look on his face in contrast with the calm rage on Riza’s. He knows, of course, whom she would have had with her if they hadn’t been assigned to the North, South, and West, or paralyzed from the waist down. Riza is smart enough to not sabotage their plans where she is, but she’d be damned if she couldn’t play her own moves in this little game.

          “Is Selim asleep? It would be a shame for him to miss this.”

          The Führer laughs before Mrs. Bradley is even able to answer. “Oh, that boy. He’s always a ball of energy, you know. We’ve sent him to bed early, but I doubt he’s asleep. He may as well be lurking in the shadows.”

          Riza smiles dryly. A threat for a threat. The ball is not a reprieve—not that she had ever expected it to be. It was just another puppet show, with Riza’s strings wearing thin, and Bradley calling the shots.

          “Ah, how good of you to come, Colonel Mustang!”

          It takes some effort not to close her eyes in exasperation. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Riza acknowledges that she had expected the Führer to pull something truly below the belt—maybe he thinks he will catch them making plans, or maybe he has done so simply out of pleasure—it doesn’t change how infuriated she is. Yet still, the ache in her chest grows even greater as she turns to face the colonel.

          Roy’s face is taut beneath his mask for a split second before he approaches Riza and Bradley. Just like her, his first instinct is to salute to his superior; he avoids meeting her eyes as he does so. “I’m honored you consider me a special guest of yours, Führer Bradley. A regular invitation would have sufficed.”

          “It’s no trouble at all. You ought to have expected a special invitation, given your recent transfer to Central. I’m sure your meteoric rise within our ranks will continue.” Bradley raises his glass in a small toast. “Surprising that you aren’t celebrating this night with a lovely lady by your side.”

          “I guess my… priorities are elsewhere, sir.”

          “So it would seem. Then, why don’t you take Lieutenant Hawkeye here for a dance?”

          She hadn’t expected the conversation to shift so quickly, from the meaningful weight in Roy’s words to the dark glint in Bradley’s eye. Riza is sweating a little beneath her mask now, and she is thankful that it obscures her face. By instinct, she glances at Roy to try and read his expression; to her surprise, his expression remains impressively blank. “It would be my pleasure.”

          Roy holds out his hand to her. She slowly takes it, hardly allowing herself time to be surprised by its texture, and by how firmly he grasps her hand as he leads her out to the dance floor, away from Bradley, through a gaggle of military officers they neither recognize nor care about.

          She has never danced in her life, except for the rehearsed cotillion of her graduation ball in the military academy, so she lets him take the lead. He pulls her in with his free hand on her back, still keeping her at a respectful distance prescribed for a waltz, as opposed to the other couples who stand more closely to each other. He must be stepping in time to the music, but Riza is able to keep up with him easily. She simply follows where he goes.

          “I didn’t imagine we’d have our reunion here,” Roy finally says, his voice gentle.

          “Neither did I. The Führer must be pleased with himself.”

          They glance at Bradley at the same time. He is now jovially conversing with a group of other military officers. Riza runs through their names in her head—Lieutenant Generals Raven and Gardner, Major General Halcrow, Brigadier General Fessler, and a number of others whose meetings she had walked in and out of in the past few months. For a moment, Bradley catches them looking in his direction, and he acknowledges them with a nod, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

          “So… how have you been, Lieutenant?”

          Roy is already gazing at her when she looks at him again. She takes note of his mask—blue and black, angular in design, as if to mimic the array for flame alchemy—and thinks that even the intimidating design couldn’t hide the softness of his features, especially when he looks at her. Suddenly, she’s thankful that the palette of her outfit can easily disguise the warmth rising in her cheeks.

          “All right,” she says. “And you, Colonel? I hope you haven’t gotten into too much trouble while I was away.”

          “I’ve done a good job staying out of it. I’d hate to lose the chance of seeing you again.”

          Riza lets out a fake, high-pitched laugh, fitting for the ball and hopefully for whatever Bradley wants to get out of them without playing into his hands too much. “Now that you have, what happens next?”

          They both fall silent, suddenly uncomfortable in the middle of the crowd. Their dance has slowed to something less rhythmic. Innocent as her question might have been, she’s hopeful for something reassuring in response—something that she and Roy can both hold on to until the next time they see each other again, whenever that may be—something that even Bradley can’t twist for his own benefit, for once. But Riza isn’t foolish; she knows that keeping that hope is a dance with the devil himself. To her surprise, Roy smiles.

          “We’ll just have to enjoy this dance.”

          At once, she knows it’s true in every sense of the word, and Riza chooses to settle with his literal invitation for now. What else could they do? There is still some time left to step around and steer things in the proper direction, after all. But this night will only last so long.

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Haunted

Read on Ao3: Here

Ghosts of the Past

Rated T

Royai

The house had been empty for years when Riza pushed open the door. She looked around the old sitting room, the furniture dusty with disuse. She only been there a few weeks after her father passed - as soon as he was gone, so was she. His ghost still haunted the halls, his presence overbearing even in his death.

“When was the last time you came home?” Roy asked, following her into the house.

“I left two weeks after the funeral.”

“And then?”

“I left. Two weeks. After the funeral.” She repeated slowly, shivering. This place was no home. It was just a building.

Riza…

She turned, the wind in the room sounding like his voice. But her father was dead, dead and gone.

“Riza… it’s your home.”

“It was never a home. It’s never been a home. It’s… a residence. Nothing more.” She walked brusquely through the house, her whole body trembling as a chill crept over her. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and the cool air rushed over her body.

Riza… Why did you leave me…?

She whirled around, but the only one behind her was Roy. He reached out to steady her, his hands gripping her shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Riza. Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, her mouth growing dry. It wasn’t a ghost. There wasn’t anything there. Just her and Roy and an empty house. Her father was dead. He wasn’t there.

“Let’s just… Get ourselves settled. I’m tired.”

“Sure,” he murmured. He walked her down to her room, and then left her alone. Riza walked around her old room, letting her hands run along the wooden walls.

Riza…

She jumped as she heard his voice again. He wasn’t here, it wasn’t real. She knew that it was just the wind, just the creaking of the old house, not used to people in it after nearly two years.

Riza… You left me… You gave my research to him…

“I-I’m sorry, Father…”

You left, Riza… Why would you leave me…?

“You’re dead! You’re not real! Why won’t you just die!?”

The door to her room flew open. “Riza… Riza, calm down. Breathe. What’s wrong?” She blinked. Roy was there, his hands reaching out for her. She let him embrace her, tears falling for the first time. “It’s okay… It’s okay… I’m here, Riza.”

“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

She felt them moving, felt him press her shoulders. She sank onto her bed, Roy sitting next to her, his arm going over her shoulder. “You never even grieved, did you?”

“I-I didn’t have the time. I had to… I had to be myself. Be strong. He never loved me anyways.”

“Shh… Shh…” He stroked her hair gently. “It’s alright Riza.”

“I-I can still hear him.”

“It’s just the wind. He’s not really here, Riza. He’s not here, but I am. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here.”

She nodded, letting his presence soothe her. It wasn’t real. He wasn’t real. It was just her, and Roy. No matter how haunted she felt, he would be there to protect her.

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Spirits

Read on Ao3: Here

“And you’ll call when you get there?”

“Roy. Nothing has changed. I have Gracia and Maria and Becca going along too. We’ll be fine.”

“I know I’m just…”

“You’re on desk duty until you can not get yourself hurt in the field.”

“Riza, the ghosts can and will hurt you if you’re not careful.”

Riza rolled her eyes and started walking toward the changing room. Roy was incredibly overprotective. Ever since he’d found out they were expecting, he’d become more nervous than usual. The office was unique. It specialized in ghost retrieval and removal, and was staffed by four couples.

Riza and Rebecca had founded the company, investing money that Riza’s father had left her when he died. Originally, it had just been the two of them and their boyfriends. Roy and Jean originally went into the field with them, but Roy continually got hurt, and Jean spent more time trying to keep Roy safe than helping remove the ghosts. But the more they continued working, the more they realized they needed more people.

The Hughes’ came next. Gracia fell right in with Riza and Rebecca, her quiet attitude leading the way to her becoming the unofficial leader. Her husband Maes decided he was more suited to the technological side of things, becoming their research tech. After the Hughes’ came Maria Ross and Denny Brosh. They both integrated themselves into the team, and things came together.

“Riza, we should look into getting your jumpsuit tailored,” Roy said when she came out. “Ya know, for the baby? And we can talk with Becca and see if we can get you to start staying in the office instead of going on calls.”

“Roy, they’re ghosts, not serial killers. Spirits won’t hurt me, or the baby.”

“Riza, I helped you start this company. I know how dangerous some of these spirits can be. I just want you both safe.”

“Maes never worried like this about Gracia. And Elicia turned out perfectly fine.”

“Yeah well…” Roy sighed. “Look Riza, I love you and I’m worried about you. I just want to take care of you. You won’t let me go into the field to try and help you--”

“Because you’re the one who keeps getting hurt! That’s why we asked you to be our receptionist!”

“Well, since I’m benched, then I need to do as much as I can to protect you from here. So I’m gonna be talking with Becca.”

Riza sighed, shaking her head. “If it will make you feel better, we can talk with Becca. But I’m not going to stop going out until I’m closer to the due date. I’m not even that pregnant yet.”

Roy smiled brightly. “Fantastic! Okay. Be safe. Let me know when you get there and when you leave, okay?”

Riza nodded and walked out to the car with the other girls. She waved to Roy as she climbed into the car.

***

The ghost was proving a lot harder than any of them had expected. Riza jumped to the side as another shot of ectoplasm rocketed toward them. She knelt behind a pillar, trying to find an opening against this monster while keeping herself safe. Roy wouldn’t be happy if she got hurt.

“Riza!” She looked around to find Rebecca narrowly avoiding a shot. Riza could feel her chest heaving. They just needed to get it surrounded. Once they had the machines set up, they could all hit their rays, and then they could go home. Riza was ready for a hot shower.

“I’ve got it!” Gracia called, sprinting around to the backside of the ghost. She set her trap down and Riza smiled, throwing hers. It took only a moment or two for Rebecca and Maria to get their traps in position. From there, it was just a matter of pressing the buttons on their packs.

The zap of electricity filled the air, and the ghost is sucked into the trap. Riza breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the locks click shut.

“Time to go, girls,” Gracia smiled, scooping up the machine.

***

“Riza, you’re back!” Roy beamed, throwing himself at his wife. “How are you? How is the baby? Are you okay? Did you get the ghost?”

Riza chuckled, pushing her husband to arms length. “We’re fine. Gracia’s bringing the trap in. I’m…” She rolled her eyes. “I’m ready to go home. Let’s get out of here.”

“Of course dear.” Roy smiled and followed her out of the building, getting into their own car. It was just another day in the business. Another day of doing what they did best. She couldn’t wait to start it all again tomorrow.

[by-nina]

The Day of the Dead

Royai Halloween 2018 | Day 4 – Hallowed Rating: T (mentions of war, genocide) Genre: Drama/Comfort Word Count: 670 @royaihalloween

A/N: I’M LATE AAAAAAAAAAAA.

“I always knew I would come back, but I didn’t really think about it much until recently. My nightmares about the war haven’t stopped, not even six years after.”

He doesn’t expect to see her here, of all places.

           His long trip to Ishval began at dawn, when the first train to the East had just pulled out of the station at Central. Roy hadn’t slept the night before. He had always known that returning to Ishval after the war would be a harrowing experience, but nothing could have prepared him for the heaviness in his chest, or the memory of prickly desert heat on his skin—all as if the war had only been yesterday.

          Plans to rebuild Ishval began to be made not long after General Grumman became Führer. Rumors of Roy’s eventual assumption of the top post have been hounding him more furiously than ever since the Promised Day; his subsequent promotion to Brigadier General only fanned the flames further. Still, he defied expectations by choosing to visit Ishval alone, on a personal trip, rather than on a state-sanctioned visit that surely would have gotten the attention of the press. He doubts that even his team knows his intentions today.

          As he approaches ground zero, he notices a few glaring changes from what he has known of the place for years, based on official reports. The military checkpoints and detachments that had been set up to restrict access to ground zero are nowhere to be found. Groups of several small tents are scattered out in the distance. Ishvalan camps, he thinks—not of those who have organized themselves for their formal return to the region, but likely those who have come for a solemn observance of the Ishvalan Day of the Dead.

          Blinking against the sand and under a harsh sun, he thinks he might only be imagining Riza atop the hill that overlooks Ishval at its outskirts. As he approaches her, she turns to him and smiles, and it’s how he knows that she truly is there.

          “Captain Hawkeye.”

          “It takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?” Her smile is replaced with a forlorn expression as she looks back at what used to be a grand plaza, now left with only lone standing walls and mounds of debris. Roy realizes that she isn’t just referring to her new rank. “I always knew I would come back, but I didn’t really think about it much until recently. My nightmares about the war haven’t stopped, not even six years after.”

          “Neither have mine,” he admits quietly. A pause. “You knew I’d be here, didn’t you?”

          Riza nods, and Roy takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you to come. I did think of you, but I also felt that it should be up to you when you would come here again. I didn’t want to decide that for you.”

          “It’s fine, sir. I appreciate it.”

          He blinks, unsure of what he sees when he looks at her once more. But he cannot be mistaken about the barrette clip missing from the back of her head, and with it the locks it has long kept in place.

          “Captain, your hair…”

          She smiles again, touching the ends of her hair just above her nape. “It didn’t feel right to come back here without doing it. Even though it’s been a long time, I can’t run away from who I was back then.”

          For a moment, Riza does look exactly as she did during the war. Roy sees the weary lines beneath her eyes, the glazed look one gets when one has heavily stained their hands with blood. He sees Cadet Hawkeye, introducing herself to him on the battlefield, losing herself the longer the war went on, until there was nothing left in her but guilt. He sees himself, too, and all the hell he has put himself through since the day he marched into Ishval.

          Roy takes her hand. Quietly, he prays to the souls of all those he had killed during the war. Maybe on this hallowed ground, on this hallowed day, they will listen to the first time that he asks forgiveness for them both.

[by-nina]

guess who’s very behind on #royaihalloween18

this bitch!

i’ve outlined two of the last three pieces and will try to work on one (or both) of them by the end of the day where i live. last week’s been busy even outside work.

but thank y’all so much for your support! your likes, reblogs, tags, and follows are much appreciated. 💖

[by-nina]

I Know You From Somewhere

Royai Halloween 2018 | Day 5 – Tombstone Rating: K+ Genre: Fluff, parallel universe AU Word Count: 1,137 @royaihalloween

The boy turns to face her, and she swears she's going to give him hell for being the brat that he is—but it doesn't happen.

“H-hey! Come back! You shouldn’t be there!”

           The young girl has spent nearly all of Halloween like this—chasing away other children who have decided to make the cemetery their playground for ghost hunting and other kinds of games. Her task is more demanding than it would first seem, especially as she has had to deal with many bigger boys her age all the way until the farthest corners of the cemetery. Still, she grits her teeth and gives chase. Her poor, sick father, the cemetery’s caretaker, needs all the help he can get.

           Flashlight in hand, the girl runs after the dark-haired boy who disappears behind the bushes going to the east of the cemetery. The sun has just begun to set; she will have to finish her task quickly in order to finish preparing dinner for herself and her father. She is slowed down by the grass, thicker and taller here than in any other part of the cemetery, dampening her socks with dew. Lawnkeeping – East, she notes as an additional task for tomorrow.

           She finally finds him at the foot of a tall tree—two intertwined trees, she corrects herself, one oak and one linden—at the east end of the cemetery. Beneath it are the two oldest graves there, so dated and overgrown that it is all she knows of them. This boy might yet be the first one to pay a visit.

          "You're not supposed to be here, you know," she huffs. "No one comes here."

          The boy turns to her; an eager glint is in his eye. "That's brilliant. Do you know who these people are?"

          The girl blinks. "No, I don't. All I know is they haven't had visitors for as long as I can—wait—stop!"

          He is peering closely at the tombstones now, so close that he must be stepping right over the bodies buried there. She drops her flashlight in horror. "Stop! What do you think you're doing?!"

          "I'm looking for people who share my name, or my birthday. There are people with the same one, aren't there?"

          She hadn't expected this response; still, she doesn't miss a beat. Planting her feet carefully between the two graves, she grabs him by the collar of his white shirt and away from the tombstones. He stumbles backwards.

          "Ow! Leave me alone!"

          "My father works hard to care for this cemetery. I won't let you make trouble here!"

          As he is pulled back, the boy twists his foot, causing him to lose his footing and yelp in pain. He quickly shuffles back to his feet, and the girl finally lets him go. The boy turns to face her, and she swears she's going to give him hell for being the brat that he is—but it doesn't happen. She loses the words when she gets a good look at his annoyed face, where another flashes for a moment. It's his face, the same black hair and dark, almond shaped eyes, but older.

          "I'm sorry," she stammers.

          The boy's shoulders drop, and his expression softens. "I'm sorry, too. May I...?"

          The girl glances at the tombstones hesitantly. Finally, she nods. She picks up her flashlight and shines it on the tombstones for the boy. He is more mindful this time, taking smaller steps between the two graves, leaning in slowly to make sure he doesn't trip. He places his hand on one of the tombstones for support, and peers in.

          "The epitaph's gotten hard to read," he says under his breath. "It's hard to imagine anyone could forget their dead like this..."

          The girl steps in more closely. She points the flashlight directly at the spot he is reading. "Can you see better?"

          He runs his hand carefully along the dusty, roughened tombstone. Soon, he feels a defined groove beneath his finger, which he traces until it forms a familiar shape. The boy begins to pick at it, tentatively at first, until he goes on to scrub the width of the tombstone. The girl watches silently, wincing only once as he scrubs away, until—

          "There it is!"

          She blinks wide-eyed at the words that emerge beneath his fingers. Even as she reads them, the weight of the words sits on her shoulder in a way that is difficult to comprehend. "Roy Mustang. 1885-1970. 'In peace, may your heart know love.' What do you think of...?"

          But the boy doesn't hear her as his face takes on a strange look of wonder and confusion. "This name is familiar. It’s not just that he’s a Roy M., just like me—I don't know how, but he—he feels like a part of me."

          The girl nods; she need not ask what he means, as she feels the exact same pull toward the name. She nudges his shoulder, then points the flashlight at the other tombstone. "What about this one?"

          The boy tears his eyes away from Roy Mustang's tombstone, then scratches away at the second. He reads the words as they appear. "Riza Hawkeye. 1889-1970. 'In love, may your heart find peace.'"

          He looks up at the girl and feels little surprise to find her breathless, like he did for the first tombstone. The pull of the second name on him is just as great, and her face tells him that it must be greater for her. What does surprise him is how, suddenly, he feels pulled not only to the two tombstones, but to her as well—as if she were a friend from another life or another world, finding him here again. There is comfort in her soft, but serious expression, and even in the way her bangs fall like a wing across her forehead. Goosebumps rise all over his body in response to this feeling.

          “Has this place always been a cemetery?”

          “My father has been living in this place since he was a teenager,” she whispers. “I don’t think it was a cemetery back then—just an old, abandoned property that someone used to live on. But I bet he knows more about this place than anyone.” She purses her lips and grips her flashlight tightly. “I’m going to ask him about these tombstones.”

          The boy watches her as she rises, then turns to leave. He doesn’t move, but he catches himself by surprise when he says, “I’ll see you around, then?”

          The girl freezes in place, and he suddenly wishes he could take back what he had said. What the hell, Roy? he thinks; he was supposed to just go grave-hunting for fun; taking it seriously and following a lead wasn’t part of the plan. But after a moment, she looks over her shoulder with a pleasant, friendly smile. “You can come here anytime.”

          “Thank you.” He hesitates briefly. “Good night, um…”

          A pause.

          “Riza. My name’s Riza.”

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Monsters

Read on Ao3: Here

“Alright. Are you ready?” Roy smiled down at his little pirate and his little bee. Maes had his sword drawn, his pirate hat cocked jauntily on his head. Beatrice was bouncing.

“Are you sure you’re not going to wear a real costume, Roy?” Riza teased, adjusting her hat. She’d dressed up as a pumpkin and even put a little flower costume on Hayate. Roy was simply wearing his Fuhrer’s uniform.

“It’s dashing! Besides, we aren’t even going together so what does it matter? Besides, Maes asked me to wear my uniform, didn’t you, buddy?”

“Yep!” Maes smiled, a bright toothy grin. Riza sighed and reached down to take Beatrice’s hand. Their daughter bounced next to her mother.

“Aren’t we waiting for the Havocs?”

“I’m sure they’ll be here soon,” Roy replied. “C’mon. Let’s head out.”

Riza sighed and guided Beatrice and Hayate out the front door, following Roy and Maes. They hadn’t gone three steps before they ran into Rebecca and Jean Havoc and their little brood. Bridget and Beatrice had talked for weeks about what costumes they wanted so they could match. Andrew was a knight in shining armor.

“Becca! It’s good to see you,” Riza said, smiling at little Annabel Lee in her cute lion onesie. She matched her parents.

“Alright! Looking forward to tonight, Colonel!” Jean smiled and walked toward Roy. Riza and Rebecca hugged each other while the men talked for a bit. The kids were itching to get going however.

“Okay, stay in groups okay?” Roy said.

“Wait a second,” Jean stopped. “I see Andrew and Maes and Bridget and Anna-Bug… But where’s Bea?”

Beatrice jumped up and down in her bee costume. “I’m here, unca Jean! Look! ‘M a bee!”

Jean chuckled. “Of course you are. Are you gonna have so much fun with your mama and Aunt Becca tonight?”

“Mmhm!”

“Excellent. So, everyone know the plan?” Jean asked. The parents nodded, and then the two groups split up. Beatrice and Bridget skipped slightly ahead of their mothers as they wandered through the streets.

“So how’s baby Mustang?” Rebecca inquired as they walked around, watching the two girls walk up to various houses and knock on the door asking for sweets.

“Not nearly as bad as Beatrice and Maes were in terms of kicking. Baby Mustang is a sweetheart.”

“Well your little bumblebee looks like she’s having fun.”

“Bee’s been talking about it for weeks. She’s been so excited to spend time with Bridget.”

“Well, I’ve been looking forward to time with my best friend,” Rebecca replied. “It’s been too long since we’ve been able to just have a cup of coffee or go to the dog park with Hayate.”

“I’m sorry. It’s been busy, and Roy always gets so protective over me when I’m pregnant. I’m surprised he’s letting me go out at all. How is Annabel doing?”

“Oh, our little angel? She’s perfect.” Rebecca smiled, shifting her little girl closer to Riza. Bright blue eyes peeked out from under a soft fuzz of black hair.

“She certainly is lovely,” Riza replied. She glanced back up at the bigger girls, and then frowned. Bea was frozen, cowering behind Bridget. Riza looked a little further up the way and saw a group of older boys. A werewolf, a vampire, a mummy, and a zombie were standing around talking about the candy they’d already received.

Riza walked up, setting a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Are you okay, Bea?”

“Th-they’re scawy, mommy!” Bea whined. The boys turned their heads, immediately shedding their masks.

“Bea, it’s okay. They’re just some boys out trying to have some fun like you and Bridget. They’re not scary.”

The leader, the one in the werewolf costume, came over to the trembling girl. “Hey, did we scare you?” Bea nodded hesitantly, and the boy knelt next to her. “We didn’t mean to scare you. You’re a real cute bumblebee, ya know that?”

“M-mommy says ‘m the cutest bee…”

“She’s certainly right. Well, Miss Bumblebee, would you like a piece of chocolate?”

Beatrice bit her lip, and looked at Riza. “It’s alright. If he’s offering, it’s okay.”

“Y-yes pwease,” Beatrice replied. Her lip was still quivering, but the werewolf smiled even more brightly, and reached into his bag, pulling out a chocolate bar and handing it to Beatrice. The younger girl accepted the candy from him, and he smiled.

“I hope you have a good rest of your night, okay, Miss Bumblebee?”

“Kay. Bye-bye Mister Woof!”

Riza smiled as the boy walked back to his group. “Feeling better, Bea?”

“Yeah. Thank you, Mommy.”

“Of course, darling. Come on, let’s start heading back. It’s getting close to bedtime.”

“Kay…” Bea replied, yawning as if on cue.

Riza leaned down and scooped her daughter into her arms. She was getting so big. Riza smiled softly. “Becca, we’re gonna start heading home. Bea’s getting tired.”

“Alright. Want us to walk you? I’m sure it’ll be a while before Roy and Jean and the boys get home.”

“We’ll be fine. Thanks. You two have fun.”

“Alright. If you’re sure?”

“Yeah. It’s getting close to Bea’s bedtime anyways.”

“Okay. We’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Yeah. Have a good night, Becca.”

***

Riza had just finished tucking in Maes. She walked into the room she shared with Roy and climbed into bed. Roy pulled her close, resting a hand on her stomach. “How was Baby Mustang tonight?”

“Perfect as always. How was Maes?”

“A nightmare. I’m still not sure how he hasn’t been completely banned from every school in Central. How do you put up with him?”

“He’s still young. He’ll grow up to be responsible, just like you.”

“You think I’m responsible?”

Riza was about to answer when a piercing shriek split the air. Riza jumped up almost immediately, running toward Beatrice’s room. Her little girl was sitting up in bed, her eyes wide in terror. Riza sat on the bed and pulled the little girl close.

“What’s wrong, dearest?”

“Th-there was a scawy m-m-monster!” Beatrice sobbed, curling up against her mother. Riza stroked her daughter’s hair, trying to soothe as much as she could.

“It was just a nightmare, Bea. Monsters…” Riza sighed, thinking back to a day not that long ago. Doll monsters and… “Monsters are real, but they won’t ever hurt you. Not as long as your father and I are here to protect you, okay?”

“B-but… b-but… But what if you and Daddy aren’t here?”

“Then you’ve got Uncle Jean and Aunt Becca and Uncle Edward and Auntie Winry. And Great-Grandpa Grumman, and Grandma Chris. You’ve got a wonderful family, and we’ll do everything to protect you. You’re safe. You’re always safe, Bea. We love you very much, okay sweetheart?”

“C-can I stay wif you an’ daddy?”

Riza sighed, and nodded. “Yes darling. C’mon. Let’s go.”

Roy was walking down the hallway when Riza began to walk back, Beatrice cradled in her arms.

“What’s wrong, Bea?”

“There was a monster, but mommy said you’d protect me. A-an’ that I can sleep wif you tonight.”

“Of course you can, princess. Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

Beatrice nodded. Riza walked down the hallway following Roy. They settled Beatrice in between them, and Roy reached over and turned out the light. Riza stroked her daughter’s hair, listening to her breathing even out. There were monsters, yes. But Beatrice would grow up safe and protected.

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Hallowed

Read on Ao3: Here

A/N: This is meant only to invoke the eeriness of old churches, cathedrals, and temples, especially when one is not a practitioner of the religion. It is not meant to belittle any religions.

Outside, the hail of bullets assaulted the desert landscape. Roy and Riza had ducked into the empty building, hoping to find some kind of shelter from the storm. Their hearts were racing as they leaned against the heavy door.

“Well… We’re safe for now,” Roy murmured. Riza nodded.

“Where are we?” she asked, looking around at their sanctuary.

Roy stepped away from the doorway, venturing into the building. “It’s… It looks like a…” He paused. “A church? Temple? Whatever they call it out here.”

“A church? We should… We should find somewhere else.”

“Do you wanna go back out there? To that firefight?”

Riza was quiet, her body shivering slightly. She didn’t like the building. It was strange, being concealed in hallowed ground. They didn’t belong here.

“Hey… Are you cold?”

“What?”

He gestured to her, and Riza blinked. Roy rolled his eyes and sighed when she didn’t immediately answer. “You’re shivering. Are you cold? I didn’t think it was possible in this desert…”

“No I just…” Riza was quiet for a minute. She thought back to the church in Tobha. Her father was buried in the churchyard there. She hadn’t even gone to visit him since his death. “This is somewhere we don’t belong. It’s… hallowed ground. No matter what we believe, this is a sacred place. We’re intruders here.”

“Riza, you can’t tell me you believe in superstitious nonsense like that.”

“It’s not superstition. It’s their belief. Just like you believe in Truth and Alchemy. We’re… Intruders here. Please, Roy. Let’s go find somewhere else. Just until the sun goes down?”

“We can’t go anywhere else, Riza. We’re stuck here until it calms down outside. Let’s just… make the best of it. We only have a couple hours before backup arrives.”

“This place is giving me the shivers, Roy. It’s not… This culture has such a history. Please. Let’s go literally anywhere else. I can get us out long enough to go somewhere that isn’t here.”

“What are you afraid of, ghosts? There’s nothing here. There’s nothing that will hurt us. We can just hunker down here until it’s time to go, okay?”

Riza nodded, but stayed as close to the door as she could. There was a spirituality to this world, something they could never understand. They didn’t belong.

***

She didn’t realize how long it was, but Roy was shaking her awake. “Riza… Riza, c’mon. It’s been quiet for a while. We can sneak out now, okay?”

“Wh-what? How… How long have I been asleep?”

“I dunno, a while. I haven’t been paying attention. I’ve been focusing more on the whole firefight going on outside. Get up, we gotta go, and quick.”

Riza stood slowly, listening to the silence outside. Roy slowly opened the door, and the two of them slipped out into the now-dark city. They moved like ghosts through the streets. Given the last several hours, ghosts didn’t seem like too much of a stretch.

Outside the city, Riza finally could feel the warmth of the desert seeping into her bones again.

“Are you okay?” Roy asked quietly. “You’ve been quiet for a while.”

“Just… cold. I told you we shouldn’t have stayed in the church. We should’ve just… gone somewhere else. Hallowed ground… It wasn’t a good idea.”

“That’s not all.”

“I was thinking of my father. I… If I make it back, I should go visit him.”

Roy was quiet. They wandered through the desert together, trying to figure things out. It wasn’t long before they encountered their backup. Several young men and women in Amestrian uniforms surrounded them.

“Major Mustang! Thank goodness. We hadn’t seen any trace of you in the city.”

“We hid in the church. Tell me, is it clear?”

“Yessir!”

“Alright then. Move out.”

The soldiers fell in step, and Roy and Riza followed in the back. She was still shaking and nervous, the strange feeling of other from inside the church was finally beginning to leave her. Roy slung an arm casually over her shoulder. She leaned into the comfort, and let the desert swallow the nerves.

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Masquerade

Read on Ao3: Here

Riza disliked the fake feathered mask that adorned her face. The dark brown feathers of her namesake obscured her bangs. In an uncharacteristic move, she was wearing her blond hair down around her shoulders instead of in her usual hawkstail. She knew she would be cold, so she was grateful for the coverage her locks offered her.

Brigadier General Grumman had insisted that everyone get dressed up for the event. Riza had been about to don her dress blues before the memo had come down that formal uniforms simply wouldn’t do. She had been dragged to nearly every shop in East City by Rebecca before she found something suitable. The dress was understated, a rich deep brown, with white fur trim around the neck and hem.

The mask had been harder to find, but Rebecca had taken her to her favorite boutique, and Riza had left with the matching mask. She would live up to her name, and was going to Grumman’s silly ball as a hawk.

She hadn’t even wanted to go. It was one of her precious nights off that matched up with Roy’s demanding schedule. They’d only seen each other once in the last month, and it had only been for a few stolen hours. Her only solace was that he was also being forced to attend Grumman’s silly soiree. Perhaps, given the nature of the party, they’d be able to find a few moments to themselves.

She wandered around the hall, accepting a flute of champagne from a waiter, and looked for Roy. Most of the officers from Eastern Command were there, dressed to the nines and hidden by masks. She was a bit intimidated by all the important men and women in the room, but perhaps for a few hours, she could pretend to be someone else.

The opulence and decadence alone was more than nearly a month’s paycheck, and she could hardly justify it. At every turn, there were more and more masks, more and more gowns, more and more suits. Combined with the champagne and… when had she eaten last? Her head was growing fuzzy, and she was near tears, overwhelmed by everything and everyone.

“And what is a beautiful young lady like yourself doing alone at such an event as this? Surely your date has only left for a moment?” Riza turned, confused by the voice she was hearing. There was no way it made any sense. But there, behind her, dressed in a sparkling white suit, with a gorgeous swan mask, was… but no, it couldn’t be. He was in prison.

“I’m… Waiting on someone. He said he’d meet me here.”

“Ah yes, the illustrious Colonel Mustang. Of course you’d be here with him. Tell me, is it business or pleasure tonight, Miss Sniper?”

Riza was frozen. She was trapped. Trapped with a man. He was supposed to be in jail. Arrested for crimes against superiors. He was being held in Central. This was East City. How was he here? What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say to him?

“Riza! There you are!” She turned again, and there was Roy. He was dressed in a chocolate brown suit, his face obscured by a dark mask meant to mimic a horse. She took his hand and was pulled away. When she glanced over her shoulder, the mysterious swan man was gone.

“Colonel,” she murmured.

“It’s Roy tonight. After all, no one knows who we are. The anonymity of the masks is a wonderful thing, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” she murmured, taking another sip of her drink. She was not prepared for this. She hadn’t really expected a nice evening out, but she was utterly terrified now. She and Roy were still testing things. If someone realized, if someone outed them... His arm wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her close to his side.

“Relax, Riza. Tonight is just for fun. No one will remember anything tomorrow.”

“I hope you’re right,” she replied softly. She could only hope that the appearance of that Swan was a figment of her imagination, a manifestation of her fears. After all, he couldn’t really be here. She closed her eyes for a moment, and she could see him there, behind her eyes, grinning like the sadist he was. She shuddered, but if Roy noticed, he said nothing.

Roy smiled and pulled her out on to the dance floor, forcing Riza to leave all her worries behind just for a few moments. For tonight, nothing mattered except the two of them. They were the only two people in the world for this one moment. Hidden behind their masks, Riza felt free to simply be, at least for a few hours. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes watching her every move, her every misstep.

When the party finally ended, Roy walked her out to one of the waiting taxis. “I can still drive you home,” he offered.

“I don’t want people to see. Not… Not yet. Tonight was wonderful. It was good to just be able to be us.” She glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning the crowd for the white suit, the elegant mask. The Swan wasn’t there.

“Well… If you’re sure…”

“Good night, Sir.”

He shut the door, and the taxi began to leave. Riza sank into the soft seats, ready to return home to her plain life, her simple existence. The dress would be lovingly hung up, placed into the closet. She would never wear it again, but… It would be nice to have.

“And did you have a lovely evening, Miss?”

Riza blinked. She could have sworn… But no, he hadn’t really been here. It was just her imagination. It couldn’t be his voice. Not here, in this taxi. It was just her and the driver.

“Wh-what did you say?”

“Did you have a good time?” The driver’s voice had changed, grown gruffer. He wasn’t wearing a suit, after all. She relaxed.

“Yes, I did. Thank you.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Riza thought of the lovely night she’d had with Roy, wrapped in his arms as they danced through the crowds effortlessly. Perhaps she would call him once she was sure he’d returned home. His voice would soothe her after the tricks her mind had played. After all, it could be anyone behind the mask.

[callibop]

Royai Halloween Week - Full Moon

Read on Ao3: Here

Riza hesitated. She’d gone up to the roof plenty of times before, usually with Roy leading the way. But this time was different.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of the Full Moon? What, got some hick superstition about it?”

“N-no! I’m not scared of the moon. What’s it gonna do to me?”

“Then why aren’t you coming outside?”

Riza stepped cautiously toward the window. The wind howled through the trees and she pulled back again. She knew that what the boys had said in town had been a joke. She knew that they weren’t real, that they’d just been trying to get a rise out of her, but she was trembling.

“C’mon, Riza. I didn’t think you were a chicken.”

“I’m not!”

“Then get out here and tell me what you’re scared about. It’s a really important night for Alchemy. And if you’re not gonna come up and watch the moon then you can just… go to bed or somethin’.”

“I… There’s… When I was getting the groceries today… The boys were sayin’ stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?”

Riza ducked her head shyly. “I-it’s stupid. You’re gonna laugh at me.”

Roy slipped back into her room. “Tell me, Riza. I wanna know.”

“They were talkin’ ‘bout… werewolves.”

Roy chuckled. “Werewolves aren’t real. It’s silly to be worried about them.”

“I know that! I’m not an idiot!”

He took her hand and pulled her to the window. “C’mon, Riza. I’ll protect you from the scary werewolves. Let’s go look at the moon, okay?”

She followed him outside and up to the roof. The air was starting to grow chilly. It was the first full moon of Fall, and she had promised she’d go watch it with Roy. The sky above them was clear, not a cloud in sight. Even with the wind blowing through the trees, Riza didn’t seem nearly as afraid with her friend. Things were fine.

The roof was quiet place and Riza loved to go up there and sit and think. With Roy, it was different. He was so excited by the moon’s light. Seeing the way he lit up with the light was a reward in itself. She simply relaxed and listened to Roy prattle on about the alchemical meaning of the moon, dozing slightly, her fears forgotten.