Work Text:
“Roy, I really don't want to do anything tonight," Riza said, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror as she put on her silver earrings.
“But it's Valentine's day," he said, hugging her from behind and meeting her eyes in the bathroom mirror with a look in his eyes that could rival Hayate's when he begged Roy for a treat. “I want to take you out tonight."
“I know but it's been such a hectic week and the last thing I want to do is go out for dinner tonight."
Riza was getting her masters in English and was teaching an intro level class as part of her scholarship. However a good majority of the students didn't care, which she expected from the beginning; but that meant that the peer review session she was doing for the first paper wasn't working as some of the students didn't submit a rough draft or send it to their partners, which then made the partners worried about getting their essays reviewed and so on. And with her own studies to keep up with it left her very stressed and tired most days.
“And besides," she continued as she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I would much rather just stay in and watch a movie with you tonight."
“Well what if I try and cook-"
“No.” She said firmly, giving him a hard look in hopes to detour whatever scheme was forming in his mind. “You're still not allowed back in the kitchen after you burned that casserole."
“It wasn't that bad." He mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
“Roy, what's so bad about us staying in and ordering take out?"
“Because all we've done this week is order take out or eat leftovers. It's a special day. I want to do something special for you."
“And having dinner with you tonight is more than special enough for me." She kissed his cheek before pulling away from him and walking into the hallway, Roy following her as she walked to the door.
“I have to go or else I'll be late," she said, putting on her coat and boots. "Are you going into the lab today?"
“No, I was going to work from home and finish the research article I've been working on." He said, leaning against the door jam.
“Alright, I'll see you tonight. Make sure to take Hayate out for a walk in the afternoon." She said, kissing him quickly before running out the door.
—
“This is a bad idea." Maes said as he followed Roy around the grocery store.
“You say that like I'm doing something dangerous." Roy replied, comparing the difference between a bag of medley potatoes and mini russet potatoes.
“Because cooking for you is a safety hazard,” Maes said as Roy looked back at the list of ingredients on his phone he needed to make a recipe he found online that said it was ‘beginner friendly’.
“I just want to make a nice dinner for Riza tonight," he looked up at Maes as he dropped the bag of mini russet potatoes into the cart. "What's the harm in that?"
“The sentiments sweet, but are you sure you'll make something edible," Maes asked as he pulled the bag of potatoes out of the cart and swapped them out for the medley's instead. “Or not hurt yourself in the process?"
“It'll be fine, I found this chicken dish that won't be too hard for me to make AND won't be dangerous. Besides, shouldn't you be with Gracia? This seems like a day you wouldn't be apart from her."
“I would but she got scheduled at the hospital for the night shift, so we're celebrating tomorrow." He said, sounding slightly grumpy over his predicament. “So I'd appreciate it if you didn't end up seeing her tonight over me."
“I'm not that bad at cooking.” Roy said, crossing his arms.
“Roy, I lived with you for over a year before you moved in with Riza and you almost burned our apartment down three times."
“It was only twice and it wasn't that bad." Maes let out an exasperated sigh.
“Why can't you just order something tonight?" Maes asked, rubbing his forehead.
“We've done that every night this week, I just want tonight to be special." Roy said as he pushed the cart toward the butcher's shop. “I promise, nothing bad is going to happen."
—
“Your paper looks fine, Winry," Riza said as she handed the heavily annotated essay back to Winry, she was the most anxious out of every student about her grade as she didn't want it to affect her scholarship. “You should be fine for the peer review session tomorrow."
“Are you sure? I don't want to-" Winry started before she was cut off by a ringing coming from Riza's bag.
“Let me just see who that is." Riza said as she pulled out her phone and checked the contact, Roys name along with a photo of him kissing her cheek popped up, she sent the call to voicemail. “Sorry, what was it you were saying?"
“Are you sure you don't need to get that?" Winry asked.
“No it's fine, he can wait a bit."
“I just don't want to get a bad grade on this essay and I'm getting worried about tomorrow." Winry said, holding her essay close to her chest.
“You'll be fine, your essay is in good shape and your partner is-" Riza was cut off by her phone ringing again, she sighed and checked again to see that it was Roy.
That’s odd . Usually he'd just wait for her to call back or if it was urgent he'd text her.
“I’m sorry, do you mind if I take this?" She asked.
“No, it's fine." Winry said.
Riza answered the call.
“Roy, I'm in the middle of office hours can I call-"
“Uh, sorry to bother you Riza." She heard Maes say on the other end of the line, she sighed.
“What did he do?" She asked, rubbing her forehead.
“He cut his hand."
“He what?" She asked, trying to keep her voice as level as possible.
“He cut his hand and we're on our way to the ER right now."
“How did he cut his hand?" She asked, slightly exasperated while she saw Winry furrowed her brows together.
“He was cutting vegetables and dropped the knife."
Figures.
“Alright, I'll meet you guys there." She said and hung up the phone. “Winry I'm sorry but I have to leave early, something just came up."
“That’s fine, thank you again Ms. Hawkeye." Winry said as she stood up to leave. “I hope everything is okay."
“It's fine, I'll see you in class tomorrow." Riza said to Winry as she walked out of her office while Riza began shoving her things into her bag quickly.
—
When Riza got to the ER she ran straight to the help desk who told her which room Roy had been admitted to. She sped walked down the hall until she eventually got to the room number she'd been given and looked in to see Roy sitting on a bed with his hand wrapped up. He turned his head and waved at her with his good hand.
“Hey Riza," he said sheepishly as she walked in.
“What did you do?" She asked as she placed her stuff down on the spare chair next to Maes, who looked about as tired as she felt.
“I dropped the knife as I was cutting vegetables.” Roy said, slightly hesitant as he tried to see what mood Riza was in. But she just sat next to him on the bed and took the banged hand in hers, staring at his hand as he continued to bleed through the gauze.
“But how did you cut it this bad? Did you try grabbing the knife?"
Roy avoided her gaze as she exhaled slowly through her nose.
“You know, for someone who's lectured me on lab safety several times, you should know better than to grab a knife as it's falling.”
He didn't say anything in response and she just sighed, feeling too tired to be mad.
“Why were you even cutting vegetables in the first place?"
“I wanted to surprise you with a nice dinner…”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “Do you not understand what 'banned from the kitchen' means?"
“Come on, you know I don't listen to the rules." He said as he ran his good hand down her back and she half laughed.
“Alright Maes, you're free to go," Riza said as she sat up and turned towards him. “I can take it from here."
“Oh come on," Maes started. “I'm not just going to leave my friend while he's-"
“I know you want to visit Gracia," Roy said. “You don't have to act noble."
“Well," Maes said as he stood up and started to walk out. “If you insist."
After he walked out Riza turned back to Roy.
“Roy, why did you try making us something?" Riza asked.
“Because you've been so stressed out lately, I wanted to surprise you to try and make your week better."
She sighed. “That's sweet, but you can't cook."
“I'm not that-"
“You can't peel vegetables without nicking your finger."
He didn't say anything as his cheeks blushed slightly.
“I love that you wanted to do something special for me but I don't want you to get hurt-"
“I didn't think I'd get hurt, it was a beginner safe recipe."
“Well, when I have more free time we can try a kid safe one. Would that be better?"
He gave her a look and she smiled.
“But seriously," she took his good hand in hers. “If you really want to, we can cook a nice meal together when your hand is better to make up for today. Okay?"
“Fine." He said, wrapping his arm around her neck and holding her.
“In all seriousness, I am glad you're okay."
“I'm glad you're not as mad at me as I thought you'd be."
“Oh no, I am." She looked up at him. “I'm just too tired to be angry currently."
“That's fun for me," Roy said, slight worry in his voice as she laughed.
—
Eventually the doctor came in, over an hour later due to the influx of patients, and examined his hand. Roy was given stitches across his palm and given a splint so he wouldn't move his hand as much while it healed.
Once the doctor left to get his final summary Riza took his now splinted hand in hers and studied it.
“Well, looks like I'm canceling classes tomorrow." Riza said as she ran her finger down the splint.
“You don't have to do that, I can take care-"
“No you can't." She said with a strong look in her eyes that left no room for argument. “Besides, you're doing the students a favor. They'll get an extra week to do their essays now. I'm sure some of them will write you thank you notes themselves."
“Well, anyway I can help I suppose." He said and Riza laughed.
“Thank you for trying to surprise me on Valentine's day. The sentiment is very sweet."
“Anything for you," he pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead. "I love you."
“I love you too." She leaned up and kissed him lightly before pulling back and smiling at him. “But now comes the hard choice of where we're going to get take out from."
He groaned slightly.
“What about we do breakfast food?"
“Breakfast food?" She asked, slightly perplexed.
“Yeah, we've had Xingese and Aerugian more nights this month than in my whole life. Let's just do pancakes or french toast from a diner."
“You know," she said as she stood up and took his good hand. “I think we have the ingredients to make french toast. And we can run to the store to get bacon or sausage if you want!
“Perfect," he said as he stood up. "And I can help-"
“No. We don't need two ER trips in one day."
He sighed and led her out of the room. “Fair enough."