Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm not that cool.

Riza lay stomach-down on the table, trying to calm herself. She knew that she had asked Roy to do this, but now, faced with the prospect of her flesh burning, it was a lot harder to keep her strong resolve and composure. But she would. If for no other reason to make it easier on him.

Everything for him.

"It's okay. You can come in now," she called to the adjoining room, where Roy was waiting for her to get ready. Riza heard his slow, reluctant footsteps enter the room and cross over to the table where she lay topless. He paused, letting loose a sigh.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this? You can still back out," He was almost pleading with her, begging her not to make him do this. To cause her pain.

Because every pain he caused her was a pain he caused himself.

"Please. Just get it over with." Riza was surprised at how calm and sure her voice sounded. Nothing at all like what was going on inside her head.

She could almost feel Roy stiffen as he looked at her lying on the table. So fragile, so helpless…what if I mess up? What if it hinders her somehow?

A deep breath. "All right, then. On the count of three. One, two…" Snap. Flames shot out from Roy's fingertips and the smell of burnt flesh soon filled the room. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, even harder than burning masses of Ishvalans in buildings. At least there he didn't know their faces, their personalities…at least they didn't suffer long. Their burdens were gone now. But Riza was going to have to deal with this for the rest of her life. The pain of knowing what she helped to create, the physical pain of burning and recovery, the pain of guilt over hundreds of dead bodies…he suspected the freedom she got from this one symbolic task would add very little relief to her overburdened mind.

Riza felt the flames lick her skin. The pain was excruciating, and it was all she could do not to scream. Clenching her mouth together, she resolved not to make a noise. It almost worked. Tears were pouring out of her eyes and her entire body tensed in pain. But despite her greatest efforts, her vocal chords refused to be still. She let out a scream, but maintained enough of her senses to do it with her mouth closed. This was one of her most selfish acts, asking Roy to take away some of the burden of her actions and her past by planting a burden on him instead. She wondered if he could ever forgive her.

But mostly, she wondered if he could ever forgive himself.