#It’s going to take a few pictures until we’re done celebrating your birthday UwU

[fullmetalscullyy]

happy birthday @waddiwasiwitch​!!! i hope you have the best day and enjoy your little present uwu 💖❤💕 a new chapter of “my inferno” bc they have been like gold dust recently but i finally got my butt into gear and finished the next chapter, so thank you for that!! :D

premise: roy mustang is a famous singer and a poster boy for central city records. riza hawkeye is an up and coming singer who just got a record deal with armstrong records. when roy offered riza a regular spot playing at the bar he owns, the two slowly fall in love. the paprazzi snapped an ambiguous picture of them both at a central city records ball, and are spinning it that roy and olivier are now dating. now, the two must deal with the fall out of the media’s actions.

read the rest of the fic here - this is chapter 18

chapter 17 sneak peak:

“Good afternoon.”

“Uh, hi.” His response was flat and Riza was able to pick up on his inner turmoil. Her hands slid down to his hands, running down his arms, and she gripped them tightly.

“I saw the post. Denny showed me it when I arrived,” she shrugged. “Bless him, he was so worried about me,” she chuckled. “These people online will latch onto anything, won’t they?”

Her tone was so casual. She truly didn’t seem bothered by it, which Roy was glad about. After all, who would want news that their boyfriend was dating someone else plastered all over the internet? Sometimes Roy was just waiting for Riza to realise just how much of a hassle this was for her. When moments like this hit, he was a ball of anxious energy.

“It’s not true,” he blurted out without thinking.

She looked up at him, surprised. “Roy… I know that. I’m in the picture.”

“I’m sorry, I…” He sighed, pulling away from her. He walked over to the windows in his office, looking down on the bar below. His hands gripped the decorative dresser in front of it, his knuckles turning white as he rested his weight against it.

A hand was placed on his back in comfort.

“I’m sorry this has happened. You don’t deserve this,” he added, his voice hoarse.

“What are you talking about?” she asked gently.

Roy bowed his head and closed his eyes. When he lifted it, he turned to face Riza. He faced the wonderful woman who owned his heart completely, seeing no judgement or irritation, just concern which was beginning to shift into real worry.

“You don’t need to go through this.”

“I’m… I’m not going through anything, Roy.”

“They’re saying that your boyfriend is dating someone else. Everyone will believe it!” he exclaimed, as if it was obvious.

“But… I don’t care.”

“What?”

“I don’t care what all those people think.”

“Half the world thinks I’m dating Olivier Armstrong, and you’re okay with that? You don’t care?” He couldn’t believe it, and it showed in his tone.

Riza shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.” Her hand gripped his tightly. “What I meant was the people that matter to me know the truth. No one even knows we’re dating, Roy,” she reminded him softly. “Remember that. It’s not like they’re saying you’re cheating on me with her. It’s… Well, it’s not harmless,” she corrected herself. “However, it’s not a big deal. These people will latch onto anything to stir up trouble. Don’t let them.”

He watched her expression, noting how she was earnest in the way she spoke, trying to get him to believe what she was saying. There was no betrayal in her eyes and Roy finally let himself relax.

“All right. I won’t.”

“Easier said than done, I know,” she smirked. “But the people that mean the most to me know the truth. That’s what matters.”

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my inferno - chapter 18

words: 4329

When Riza said “see you in a few”, Roy thought she’d only be a couple of minutes. Hayate didn’t take that long to do his business. Just as he was contemplating going to get her, Jean entered his office hurriedly.

“You need to go out front,” he urged, expression worried.

“Why?” Roy asked, standing from his desk chair, ready for action.

“The paps are here.”

Riza.

He took the stairs two at a time and exited his bar to the flash of cameras. They blinded him like always, but he wasn’t interested.

Luckily, he’d installed security outside his bar from day one. Being a famous celebrity meant there were always paparazzi outside Ignis. They had to remain behind a barrier and maintain a certain distance from the entrance to the bar, otherwise Roy would have them arrested. It was some loophole his mother had managed to find, and Roy wasn’t going to complain, especially when they could be so vicious on occasion. They were always desperate to get a word from him, but Roy ignored them. He was never interested in the vultures. All staff used the back entrance and by the time night rolled around, the paparazzi were uninterested in waiting around any longer. Most of them went home because there was never anyone famous as the live entertainment at Roy’s bar, like they so desperately hoped there would be.

“Roy Mustang!” they called, shoving phones in his direction. He was too busy looking for Riza. Roy knew better than to call her name out loud, so remained quiet. He began to worry when he wasn’t able to spot her.

“When did you start dating Olivier Armstrong?”

“How long has this been going on?”

“When can we expect the wedding?”

At the last one he turned around and re-entered his bar, where the paparazzi wouldn’t be able to follow.

“Jean, where –”

Riza was standing beside Jean, Hayate by her side.

Roy approached hurriedly, placing his hands on her shoulders and taking a close look at both her eyes, trying to decipher if anything was wrong.

“Are you all right?” he asked quietly, sincerely.

“Yeah… Why wouldn’t I be?” She looked positively bewildered.

“Jean said you’d been caught up in the paparazzi outside,” he stated, his worry bleeding through. Roy didn’t want her dealing with those vultures and especially not on her own. Not about anything that concerned them both.

Riza looked between him and Jean, clutching Hayate’s leash in her hands. Her brow furrowed in confusion. “I saw them when I left out front, but I just walked around the back.” She suddenly looked amused. “They thought I was someone important when I opened the door, but they put down the cameras when they saw me and looked disappointed.” She snickered. “That was a nice feeling, actually.”

“You said she had been,” Roy accused, turning his attention to Jean.

“I said the paps were here.” Jean shrugged. “She left that way, so I thought she might have been caught up in it.” He was unapologetic, and Roy was glad. It was good to know that Jean was looking out for her.

“You came looking for me?” she asked. Jean had already left to go back behind the bar, and Riza stepped forward towards Roy.

“Of course. I wasn’t going to let you face them alone. They’re only here to ask about the whole Olivier thing anyway, and I didn’t want you to be ambushed.”

“Thank you.” She kissed him lightly, a smile spreading across her face. “That was very sweet of you.”

“Of course, Riza. And if you ever do now that the photo is out there, just give me a call. I’ll help you if you need it.”

“Duly noted.” Another peck on his cheek, then she turned, waiting for him expectantly, so they could both return to his office.

Roy finished up quickly in his office and grabbed Riza’s hand as they snuck out the back of his bar quickly, swinging their hands together. They would head back to his place, each of them taking their cars, then would get a taxi in to town tonight so they could have a few drinks after Riza’s performance. He was excited to cook dinner for her too. It was always a treat to be able to do domestic tasks with Riza by his side.

“So, what’s on the menu tonight?” she asked as they approached her car. Her expression was radiant, and Roy was stunned for a second, taken aback by her beauty once more. His mouth opened to reply, but no words left him. Riza raised both eyebrows, laughing to herself. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I…” He’d managed to compose himself, finally. “I was just taken aback by how beautiful you were,” he replied truthfully. It was his turn to laugh when he saw how red her cheeks turned. Pecking her cheek, Roy was unapologetic as he beamed at her. “Diner is a surprise. See you soon?” he asked.

“See you soon,” she confirmed, peeking up at him through her fringe. She still wasn’t used to being complimented, especially not on her looks, but Roy made it his mission to mention it to her at least once a day. It was only the truth, after all.

They shared a quick kiss then went to their respective cars. Roy already hated being apart from her and couldn’t wait until they reached his apartment.

Arriving at the same time, their hands were drawn together like magnets as they approached the lift to Roy’s apartment.

“So, Chef Roy,” Riza teased with a grin as she placed her overnight bag on the floor by his door. “You won’t even give me a clue about what’s on the menu for tonight?”

Roy shook his head, noting she was still holding a bag that felt like it had some weight in it. “Nope. It’s a surprise.”

And that’s not the only surprise for tonight, he thought to himself, his palms sweating. He had a question to ask her, but wanted to wait until after they’d ate.

“Is there a special occasion?” she queried innocently as she approached his kitchen with the same bag.

Yes.

“No,” he replied smoothly, following close behind. He was curious about what was in this bag. What had she bought? “I only want to treat my wonderful girlfriend.”

She tossed a radiant smile over her shoulder and placed the bag on top of the counter.

“Although,” Roy added, taking a seat at the stool around his breakfast bar. “I am curious about what you’ve brought with you.”

Riza pulled out a bottle of red wine and two large packets of crisps. Her voice turned softer when she spoke.

“You sounded so worried on the phone about what had happened with Olivier, so I wanted to bring something in case you weren’t feeling up to cooking and wanted to talk through things.” She glanced up at him. “I thought we could order in and then pig out on crisps and wine when we got back from the bar.”

Roy blinked at her. She had been so thoughtful.

Even now, his stomach twisted painfully with anxiety over what might have happened and how Riza could have reacted to the news that everyone thought he was dating Olivier. It still didn’t sit right with him, what the media did, and he was still worried. Was she really okay with it? Riza reassured him she was, but this was just the beginning. With Riza in the spotlight even more now, things were bound to get worse with the media. It shouldn’t, but Roy had been in this business too long to be so naïve to think it wouldn’t.

“What?” she asked when he didn’t reply for a long moment, only stared at her.

“Oh, uh,” Roy stuttered, snapping out of it. “Nothing, sorry,” he replied sheepishly. “That was very thoughtful of you, thank you.” His thanks were as sincere as he could make them. He was surprised by the gesture, but only because he hadn’t expected her to think of something like that. Most girls he’d been with had picked up on anything the media posted, thinking it was true and leading them to believe he was cheating on them for some reason. It was never true, and Riza didn’t jump to conclusions and had seen the best in him. It was a refreshing change, especially in this industry and with his lifestyle.

Roy stood from his stool and approached her. Riza watched expectantly and didn’t move from her spot. He hugged her tight to his chest, giving her a quick squeeze, but didn’t pull away. He was pleased to note her arms rose to wrap around his torso equally as tight, and it reinforced his love for this woman in his heart. He loved her so much, and if something were to tear her away from him, or if she realised he was too much hassle and stress to be with because of his status, then it would definitely kill him. He now realised that his whole heart belonged to her, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the woman in his arms.

Baby steps first, though.

“What’s this for?” Riza asked, her voice muffled against his chest.

“I love you, Riza.” Roy cleared his throat, surprised at the emotion that had been lodged in there. He squeezed her tight. “You’re so good to me.”

“You deserve it,” she replied without hesitation. Pulling away, she looked up at him with the softest smile on her face. He melted on the spot.

“I’m lucky to have such a thoughtful and understanding girlfriend,” he added, slightly nervous. Roy didn’t know how long the understanding part would last for. Being in the limelight took its toll on relationships, and Roy had more than enough experience of that.

“I like to think this is the standard.” She cocked her head. “Although something tells me this hasn’t been in the past for you.”

He glanced away from her, casting his gaze to nowhere in particular to his side. His eyes landed on the bottle of wine on the counter.

“Being famous…” He trailed off, struggling to find the right words. “It’s not a walk in the park. People will talk and some will try to turn us against each other.” He swallowed past the lump that had formed in his throat. “I just…” Roy sighed.

“What is it, Roy?” Riza murmured, turning his head gently by the chin so that he was facing her completely.

“I don’t want that to happen,” he whispered. Right now, that was his biggest fear.

“It won’t,” Riza replied firmly. “I won’t let it. Don’t let what happened get to you, Roy.”

“It’s hard,” he admitted.

This was the first time he’d revealed something like this to someone other than his mother. She knew all about his struggles and hardships with relationships in general after he’d become famous. Not just romantic ones, although there hadn’t been many. That had quickly stopped after his second girlfriend went crazy because some trashy magazine had falsely posted they were having “relationship troubles”. It was completely made up, however she’d lived and breathed that rubbish and treated it like gospel. She left him angrily after that, and Roy didn’t bother anymore. It was too much work. That’s why he couldn’t believe his luck he’d met someone as wonderful as Riza Hawkeye.

Riza offered him a sympathetic smile. “I know.”

He huffed another sigh and slid his hands down, so they were resting on her hips. “It’s always been hard for me to keep people around. Everything about me takes its toll on them at one point and they always leave.”

Silence descended over the kitchen. Even Hayate was quiet, although in the moment, Roy had completely forgotten about him.

“Are you waiting for that to happen again?” Riza asked quietly.

Glancing up, Roy resisted the urge to bite his lip because it would give his answer away. He saw Riza’s head had dipped as she tried to catch his eye.

He nodded. It was tiny, but it was there. He couldn’t admit it out loud. It terrified him too much, losing Riza.

“I understand.” Roy watched as her expression turned sympathetic. “I’ve been through the same thing. At school I was the quiet kid who didn’t have any friends because my father was a “weirdo”, and by association, so was I,” she shrugged. “The only friends I have are Rebecca, Izumi and Sig, and my old music teacher.” Her expression turned fond at the mention of the teacher. She’d never spoken about them before. “It’s a small circle, but it’s with the best people, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. At one time, I was just waiting for them all to leave like everyone else, but they didn’t. They stuck around and supported me like no one else had ever done before.”

“How do you do it?” he asked. She mentioned before that she didn’t care what people thought. Roy, in general, was the same, but when something like this happened to someone he cared about, he couldn’t help but worry about what they thought and if things were okay between them.

“I learned very early on not to care. If I did, I would cry my eyes out, which I hated doing. After I learned not to, my childhood became easier, but it was a hard road getting there. However,” she added, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a rush. She smiled up at him. “It’s done me the world of good. I was so self-conscious and had very low self esteem at school. Once I stopped caring, I was finally able to move forward. And, after everything I’ve gone through, it all led me to you.” Her smile was even brighter this time. “And I’m happy with that.”

Roy crushed her in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

*          *          *

“I love you,” Roy whispered in Riza’s ear, his breath caressing her skin. She shivered at the sensation, unable to help herself, and squeezed him tighter. He obviously needed it.

Riza understood his worry and concern over what had happened with the media. It wasn’t fair to him though. He didn’t deserve to be treated that way, and Riza knew it was going to get worse now their relationship was out in the open. It shouldn’t matter, but Riza wasn’t stupid. She knew they’d be scrutinised over everything, but there was a reason she didn’t have social media. If she couldn’t see it, she didn’t have to worry about it.

“I’ll never leave you because of what someone online tells me. I’ll always come to you about it,” she reassured him, rubbing her hands up and down his back. “Plus,” she chuckled. “I’d have to have social media for that to happen, and I don’t think that’s going to occur anytime soon. Especially not after today.”

She felt his body heave a sigh underneath her arms. “I know,” he murmured. He sounded ashamed and a bit embarrassed.

“I care about you Roy. I care a lot.” The grip on her tightened and she smiled to herself. “I won’t jeopardise that by jumping to conclusions. I’m like you. I don’t want to mess this up, and I don’t want to lose you either. I’d never forgive myself if I acted like that and it ruined everything for us.”

Riza placed her palms on his cheeks, guiding his head out the crook of her neck. She met his gaze head on and didn’t shy away from the eyes begging her to continue to reassure him, for his own peace of mind.

“I’m in this for the long run.” Her tone was firm, and she felt a boldness creep up on her. “I… I hope you are too,” she finished after letting loose a breath in a rush.

“Definitely.”

His lips descended on hers quickly and Riza was powerless to stop it. Not that she would. His hands caressed up and down her sides, driving her crazy, which made her tug at his shirt to remove it from his waistband.

Things were escalating as he began to walk backwards, pushing her with him, but maintaining a tight grip around her waist so she wouldn’t fall. Her back hit the wall and she moaned.

“Dinner,” she gasped, finally able to find her breath.

“You want food now?” he chuckled against her neck, not letting up on his assault there with his lips.

“We need to have it soon or –” She was cut short by her own gasp when his teeth nipped at the vein in his neck.

“We’ve got time,” he dismissed, his breath tickling her neck. Riza’s hands lifted to rest on his shoulders, fingers digging in hard to find purchase and to spur him on even more.

“Not really –”

Her argument was cut short as his lips covered hers once again, silencing her. Once they broke apart for breath, Riza opened her eyes to find him staring at her, his eyes and expression hungry with desire.

“We’ll make time.” It was a statement, but Roy still held back, like he was waiting for her to agree with him before things progressed.

Riza nodded. As she did so, she gripped his shoulders tight and pulled him back towards her. Roy lifted her as they kissed, hooking her legs around his waist as he carried her to his bedroom, kicking the bedroom door closed with his foot. They were lost to one another underneath the satin sheets of his bed.

Once parted, they lay in Roy’s bed, basking in the presence of one another. Riza didn’t want to leave this bed. She didn’t want to leave him. She knew driving back to her apartment alone tomorrow night would be painful. It was becoming harder and harder every time to leave him, and Riza had only started to notice in the last week or so.

She snuggled into his side and Roy wrapped his arms around her, but not before lifting the sheet to cover their exposed bodies.

“I love you,” she murmured into his side. A pleased smile was unstoppable as she felt him shift and press a kiss to the top of her head. Leaving him tomorrow would be agony.

“I love you so much it’s unbearable sometimes.” His reply made her melt next to him.

She’d never felt so loved by someone before. Not only that, he was her biggest supporter. From day one he’d accepted her based on her talent alone – not that she thought she had much else to offer, but apparently so – and helped her with everything she needed, from stage setups, to helping her pick between Central City and Armstrong Records. Maes had been crestfallen she’d chosen Armstrong over him but didn’t complain.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, ghosting his fingers up and down her arm.

“I always wondered…”

“Yeah?”

“When you accepted me as a regular artist at your bar… Did you know you liked me then?”

She heard him shift his head, no doubt cocking it in thought.

“I found your voice absolutely incredible. I fell in love with it immediately.” She felt her face heating up. “And the next morning I played your EP for hours and just listened to it. I was smitten,” he chuckled, not ashamed to admit it. “Then I couldn’t stop thinking about you, and the way you sang. You were so endearing and the way you dressed was so refreshing from all the other artists I’d seen.”

“What was I wearing?” For the life of her she couldn’t remember but wanted to see if Roy did.

“It was a pair of skinny jeans and a plain hoodie. It was a nice change from the too expensive suits and the people caked in makeup.”

“What’s wrong with that?” she queried.

“Nothing’s wrong with it,” he stressed. “It was the people. They were only dressed up like that to try and impress me, but I didn’t want that, I wanted good music and serious musicians. I didn’t want people doing the gig just for the chance to meet me, which has happened more than once.”

Now she understood. It must have been hard for him to get a serious business of the ground when people were only interested in meeting him, and not what he was trying to do.

“And that Sunday Maes told me he was going to offer you a deal – which meant you made a big impression on him, by the way – I was so excited. A part of me was happy for you and I tried to ignore the flipping of my stomach at the thought of seeing you again,” he chuckled.

“Wow,” Riza whispered. That was quick.

“It was mostly just to see you perform again, but secretly I wanted to see you again too. You’re truly a vision when you play, Riza, and every time I witness it, I fall in love with you all over again.” Her cheeks turned pink again and her happy smile returned.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I remember leaving the coffee shop and finding the note you gave me for my EP and was confused about where it had come from. I’d completely forgotten you’d bought it.”

“You forgot about me that fast?” he joked, lifting his shoulder so her head, which was resting on it, was nudged upwards.

“For your information,” she fired back, but with no bite to her tone. “I got home at one o’clock in the morning then was up at five for work on the Sunday. I didn’t have a chance to think about you.”

Roy hugged her against the side of his body. “Hopefully that life is behind you now,” he replied carefully, sounding like he hoped it was the right thing to say.

“Fingers crossed,” Riza agreed. “Anyway, I remembered thinking you were very good looking, but I really liked your smile. And you were so sweet and made me feel so welcome for playing at your bar. I’d never had that experience before. From then on, I fell for you slowly, but it was inevitable.”

“I’m glad things turned out for the best.” She hummed in agreement, shifting so she was more comfortable against him. “And I was thinking…” Roy added, trailing off and sounding uncertain.

“About what?” Riza prompted him.

Roy sat up, gently moving so Riza could move as well. He was facing her completely, the sheet draped across his lap while Riza pulled it tighter around her exposed body. She shivered in the cool air.

“Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking…”

“That sounds dangerous,” she joked. Riza had no idea where that joke came from. Roy blinked at her, then laughed, slightly in disbelief.

“Thanks,” he replied sarcastically, but he was grinning.

“You’re welcome,” was her sweet reply.

“No, but seriously, I have been thinking a lot about us. We both love each other, and I don’t know about you, but when you leave here on a Sunday night, or after I leave your apartment, it’s one of the hardest things I have to do.”

Riza nodded in agreement. “It’s the same for me.”

“So… What about if we… Lived together? Here?”

His question didn’t fully register with her and Riza just stared at him, still waiting for his real question. Was that it…? Was he… asking her to move in with him?

No…

He was.

Roy awaited her answer, shifting in place.

“If you don’t want to, and want to keep your apartment, I completely understand. I just thought it might be easier for you seeing as Armstrong Records is only a short drive from here instead of over an hour, and –”

“Roy.” She cut off his rambling, her brain finally catching up. He froze, watching her almost fearfully. He was scared he’d overstepped things and she’d say no.

Riza’s heart was racing in her chest. She wanted to jump for joy. She wanted to cry. She wanted more than anything to move in with him.

“Let’s do it.”

It was his turn to stare at her and blink while he registered her answer.

Roy surged to his knees and cupped her cheeks in his hands, kissing her fiercely. She laughed against him, losing her balance so they both fell back on the bed.

“Thank you,” he breathed, staring lovingly into her eyes.

“You don’t need to thank me,” she giggled.

“No, but I do, because you’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

“Then I’ll say thank you to you for the same thing,” she grinned.

They almost went for round two when Riza broke apart for a breath, pushing Roy off her playfully.

“We need something to eat,” Riza reminded him.

“Can’t you be on the menu.” Roy waggled his eyebrows suggestively then laughed as she threw a pillow at him. He caught it and rolled over onto his back while Riza sat up and started to dress herself.

“No, and I’m starving. You wanted to make me dinner, roomie, so get to it.”

Roy hopped out of bed, half clothed, with a beaming smile. He saluted sharply like a soldier. “Aye, aye, captain.”

Riza rolled her eyes and laughed at his antics as he marched out the room. As she dressed herself, Riza heard him whistling a tune.

Roomie… She almost started crying at the thought of moving in with Roy. He had become her home. He was her haven, and she couldn’t wait to live every day with him from now on. She pressed a hand over her mouth to muffle a sob. A happy one, though.

Hayate walked through now that the bedroom door was open. He whined up at Riza, his ears pulling back.

“Hey, boy,” she greeted, sniffing and laughing to herself. “Welcome to your new home.”

#royai #royai fic #royai fanfic #royai au #emma writes #my inferno #gift fic