(spring is for renewal)

when the flowers bloom, they (almost) start again

Roy waits for Riza the day the bandages are removed from her burned back.

"I figured you might need an umbrella," he says after she exits the doctor's office (though calling it an office is generous; the treatment is rough, but she won't risk going to the big hospital in East City where Roy can't pay the doctors not to ask questions). Outside she can hear the rain patter and she can't deny her gratefulness.

Roy offers Riza his arm and for a moment she hesitates at the closeness. But then he gives her a small smile, and she finds herself looping her arm with his.

"Thank you," she says as they exit the building together.

He shakes his head, "It's the least I could do."

The rain falls down harder and Roy presses Riza a bit closer to him so that she doesn't get wet. A silence descends upon them, and then he tumbles the words out almost guiltily, "Does your back hurt much?"

"No. Not anymore."

"Good," he breathes out and finding her hand, squeezes it a bit.

(tomorrow she will come to him as his aide and she will be given a gun that will one day be pointed at his head. but today her hand feels warm in his and her back feels raw and clean and maybe it's almost enough to pretend.)

So she doesn't let go of his hand and the rain washes them anew.

A/N: So here it is, the last of the set! I'm actually not very happy with this one, but I didn't want to mull it over any longer (probably going to regret that later, but oh well). Hope you enjoyed it!