Work Text:
Roy shuffled through the papers, scanning through the documents. The stuffy government office wasn’t air conditioned and the thick air was barely stirred by the slowly whirring ceiling fan above him. In Amestris, social services were severely underfunded compared to the military. The kind social worker had left to give Roy some privacy while he reviewed the paperwork. Not for the first time he wondered if this was really the right thing to do.
As if reading his mind, Hawkeye said softly, “It’s the only way.”
Roy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He picked up the pen- black, all legal documents needed to be signed in black- and started to sign. Just before the ballpoint pen touched the 8.5 x 11" bond paper, he hesitated. The weight of what he was about to do bore down on him. Once he signed those documents, there would be no going back. Responsibility with a heavy thing, and Roy had been known to embrace and shirk it in equal measure. Roy took a deep breath and the pen touched the paper. Roy signed his name in grand, looping cursive just as Riza taught him.
He wrote his initials at the end of every page, signed and dated where indicated. He took the time to read each page before he signed and his anxiety only grew. This was permanent, or at least for the 10 years or so. But when Roy thought about those boys – those two lonely, desperate boys – Roy knew he was making the right decision. With each signature, each initial, Roy felt the weight lifting. Those boys needed someone to guide them, to be there for them, keep them out of trouble, help fix their mistakes.
He remembered the conversation he had with Riza when he told her what he planned to do.
"This is serious, do you understand that? This is not something to be done on a whim," she had said in that stern Sunday school teacher voice that always made him feel like he done something wrong.
"I know, Riza. That's why I'm doing this. Those boys have no legal guardian. They had no one look out for them. Mrs. Rockwell is a part-time parent at best," Roy had replied.
"If you going to do this, you have to commit. At least for the next eight years those boys have to be your priority. Are you willing to set aside our plan for them?" Riza was a sniper. Of course she go right for his weak spots.
"I'm committed, Riza. And there's no other alternative or at least no better alternative," Roy said.
"You have to be there, Roy," Riza insisted. "It can't be just a way to let Ed sign up to be a State Alchemist. They can't just be another piece on the board. Can you do that? Be there for everything. Every loose tooth and skinned knee, every doctor's visit, every birthday, every milestone."
"I will be."
Roy had made that promise with his whole heart even though he knew it was a promise he might not be able to keep. When he was finished signing all of the documents, the social worker looked them over.
"I think that's all we need, Col. Mustang. Will send you something in the mail once the adoption papers go through. But for now, you are the temporary legal guardian of Edward and Alphonse Elric."