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Riza squinted through the dry, unseasonably cold wind down at the little scrap of paper clutched between both her hands. 'Nov 13th- 16:30 arrival' was all it said, scrawled hastily in blue ink from a pen that had started to go dry on her. The words were carved onto the paper more than they were inked, and in her frustration she'd missed any additional details Roy might have given her during their last phone call. That made her brow furrow, thinking of herself all out of sorts like a flustered schoolgirl, and she ducked her nose into the knit of her scarf as embarrassment heated her face.
It was rather out of character for her to be so scattered and unprepared. Passengers were beginning to spill out of the arriving train in a slow but steady stream, and she didn't know which car he might emerge from, or what he might be wearing, or—
"Lieutenant colonel Hawkeye!"
Riza snapped her head up in the direction of his voice, ringing clear and crisp in the thin autumn air. Not tinny like it was over the phone, none of the accompanying static. Just him, in the flesh, sounding a touch hoarse but also undeniably excited. She hadn't even seen him yet and she could feel her skin pebble into gooseflesh as a chill danced up her spine beneath her coat.
He stood in the middle distance off to her left, a hand raised above his head in a lazy wave like he had spotted her immediately, easily, despite the crowd. Roy Mustang. Everything about him so familiar and so cherished by her, from the shine of his sleek, dark hair to the way his cheek dimpled as he beamed at her.
It had been four months since Riza had seen him last when she visited him in North City, which felt like both a laughably short separation and an impossibly long stretch apart all at the same time. Riza felt pinned to the spot for a moment; her heart rabbiting in her chest, her stomach tumbling over itself at the sight of him, at the knowledge that he was there. Finally, at last, back in Central. This time, to stay.
"Private Mustang," She replied when she regained her composure, satisfied with the even measure of her voice despite the way her her body thrummed with excited energy. Roy's grin grew and he started towards her, lugging his trunk along with him.
"I've already been discharged, so I'm officially a civilian now." He informed her as he drew near, his smile positively radiant despite the weariness in his expression. Riza imagined it had been a long, cold train ride.
"I see," She mused. Roy's trunk looked heavy, and she decided to take pity on him and meet him in the middle of the platform, allowing herself a small, pleased smile. "What should I call you now, then?"
"Hah, I think just 'Roy' will do. Congratulations on the promotion, by the way." He replied, chuckling as he did, the cadence of their typical banter returning to him easily. "I like that I get to call you 'lieutenant' again, even just in part."
This twist of fate still felt absurd to her, that he would stand before her as a civilian while she continued to rise through the ranks, filling in the gaps of power that he left behind when he had suddenly, without warning, dropped his title as an officer and transferred to Briggs. Roy Mustang, a regular civilian . Absurd, indeed, but it made some degree of sense in the new political landscape that was being established following Bradley’s deposition.
Finally they closed the space between them, all the miles and all the months of distance reduced to just a couple of feet. Roy’s expression softened as he reached out to brush his fingers up the side of her arm in greeting. It was a tentative gesture, almost shy, seeking out her approval or permission. The small part of Riza that still shied away from vulnerability released its hold on her and she stepped into him to fold him up in an embrace, her arms thrown around his neck. Usually, public displays of affection like this would have mortified her, but Riza was so happy to see him again that the embarrassment she usually would have felt didn't even register in her mind.
Roy responded in kind immediately, holding her around the waist and pulling her in closer, nestling his face against her hair. He took a slow, deep inhale and then sighed, sagging against her in relief and holding her just a little tighter. He smelled like the standard issue ivory soap from the barracks and of the lavender amber lotion she sent him to soothe his wind-chapped skin. Different from the smoke and expensive colognes of his past, but no less 'him'.
"Welcome back, Roy." She murmured against his shoulder, trying to express all the months of missing him in the warmth of her voice.
Roy exhaled softly in response, an audible tremble on his breath as brought one hand up to cradle the base of her skull. “I've missed you, Riza."
He pulled back just enough to look into her face, smiling at her so tenderly that Riza's lungs felt tight. He looked so handsome with his features softened by affection, not carrying the usual stiffness in his jaw or the tightness at the corners of his lips. His hair looked freshly trimmed, his face smooth of the rough stubble that he'd been sporting when she saw him last, and his cheeks were fuller and rosier as well. He looked in better health and in better spirits than during his tenure at the border, that was certain, and for that Riza was so relieved. She couldn't help but worry—the Northern outposts were famously cold and gray and miserable. But everything about Roy seemed lighter now.
She was so caught up in studying him that she hadn't noticed him move his hand to her face until his fingers grazed over the curve of her cheek, and the air left her in a fluttery laugh when she startled. "I've missed you, too." She admitted as she nuzzled into his touch, her cheeks hot.
"Talking on the phone really doesn't hold a candle to holding you." He leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her brow and Riza melted into him.
It was true, of course, but Riza was amused that he was corny enough to be the one to say it. And in public , no less. Bless him. She cupped his face between her palms and guided his lips to hers, pushing up onto her toes to meet him faster.
"Oh," Roy breathed when they parted, grinning like a fool, his face flushed prettily. "I've missed that very much, too."
Riza laughed again, unable to help herself. 'This idiot, beautiful man' she thought, feeling giddy. It was so good to be back in his arms, and this time they didn't have an impending farewell hanging over their heads. Suddenly impatient, she bent to grab at the handle of his trunk. In the past year and a half since their reconciliation following the siege on Central, Riza had had enough of train stations. Enough of subsisting on tired phone calls at the end of the week. Enough too-short visits spread too far apart and their inevitable goodbyes. Now, Roy was coming back to her apartment and he was going to stay.
"Come on," she took his hand as she turned to lead him from the station. "Let's go home.
"Home." Roy repeated reverently, almost in disbelief, as he wove their fingers together and fell into step beside her. “Yes. Let’s go home.”