[fic] honooko: Variations: Roy
Entry: Variations Arc
Title: Roy
Author: honooko
Rating: PG
Warning: Hughes!babble, spoilers for Winry's parents.
Summary: In this world, he didn't have someone to distract him from the past.
Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang talked on the phone often, but rarely was it willingly. He never called his many dates, instead preferring for them to call him. And even when they did, the conversations were short and concise. He had no patience for frivolity and small talk.
His most common calls involved holding the phone away from his head as his best friend Maes called, all the way from Central, to gush about his beautiful daughter and wife. Maes could go on for hours, if allowed, and Roy found he didn’t need to partake in the conversation at all except for the occasional grunt of agreement. And as disruptive and irritating the calls (which came at least once a week) were, he enjoyed hearing his friend’s voice as he recounted many happy domestic adventures. It had been too long since Maes had sounded this truly happy.
“My Nina is such an artist, Roy! You wouldn’t believe the stunning likenesses she’s been making lately; I’ve been planning on showing them to the local art gallery. Bordgen, watch out! Nina Hughes has more talent in her pinky finger! And it turns out my lovely daughter has a gift with fashion as well! She made the most adorable outfit for her doll yesterday, you wouldn’t believe-“
“Hughes,” Roy interrupted shortly. “I’m working.”
“Still?” Hughes replied, astonished. “My god man, don’t you ever get out? When are you going to find a woman to settle down with, raise a fam-“
“Working, Hughes.” Roy cut in again. He could practically hear Maes pout across the phone line.
“At least take a minute to talk to my darling princess! Nina, come talk to Uncle Roy!”
“No, Hughes, I have to-“ Roy began, but too late.
“Uncle Roy?” Nina’s small and calm voice asked, politely. Roy smiled slightly. Nina was like a prim woman in a ten year old body.
“Hello, Nina. I hear you’ve been drawing portraits?” He asked warmly.
“Did Papa call you just to tell you that?” she asked, her voice incredulous. Roy chuckled as he confirmed her fears. Nina clucked her tongue. “I’m sorry he bothered you at work, Uncle Roy. I’ll draw your picture next time you visit, okay? I’m going to hang up so you can work.”
“Alright Nina, I’ll look forward to it. Good bye.” Roy said before hanging up. Nina was far more sensible than her adopted father. Glancing at the wall clock, he counted how many hours he had left until he needed to catch his train to Risembool. A recent letter from Winry had unnerved him, and he decided to surprise her with a visit.
He didn’t want a family of his own. He felt bad enough having destroyed someone else’s.
He’d never told Winry the truth about his repeated visits. Roy had been coming to see her regularly since she was a small child, bringing her presents and stories from East City. Pinako didn’t ask, but somehow Roy thought she knew anyhow. It was the distant and searching look that she gave him sometimes, as he sat at her kitchen table and listened to Winry babble about her latest mechanical project.
He never told her, or explained, why he put himself in Winry’s life. Even if he did, what could he say? “Sorry Mrs. Rockbell, I seem to have killed your children by order of the military. But now I feel bad for orphaning your granddaughter, so I’m going to spoil her rotten for the rest of her life.”
Somehow he didn’t think that would go over very well.
In any event, Pinako had accepted his presence, and in her own way, she seemed to have forgiven him. Roy would never forgive himself, but so long as he knew Winry was happy and healthy, he could keep going forward.
He would keep trying to make up for his biggest mistake.
Title: Roy
Author: honooko
Rating: PG
Warning: Hughes!babble, spoilers for Winry's parents.
Summary: In this world, he didn't have someone to distract him from the past.
Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang talked on the phone often, but rarely was it willingly. He never called his many dates, instead preferring for them to call him. And even when they did, the conversations were short and concise. He had no patience for frivolity and small talk.
His most common calls involved holding the phone away from his head as his best friend Maes called, all the way from Central, to gush about his beautiful daughter and wife. Maes could go on for hours, if allowed, and Roy found he didn’t need to partake in the conversation at all except for the occasional grunt of agreement. And as disruptive and irritating the calls (which came at least once a week) were, he enjoyed hearing his friend’s voice as he recounted many happy domestic adventures. It had been too long since Maes had sounded this truly happy.
“My Nina is such an artist, Roy! You wouldn’t believe the stunning likenesses she’s been making lately; I’ve been planning on showing them to the local art gallery. Bordgen, watch out! Nina Hughes has more talent in her pinky finger! And it turns out my lovely daughter has a gift with fashion as well! She made the most adorable outfit for her doll yesterday, you wouldn’t believe-“
“Hughes,” Roy interrupted shortly. “I’m working.”
“Still?” Hughes replied, astonished. “My god man, don’t you ever get out? When are you going to find a woman to settle down with, raise a fam-“
“Working, Hughes.” Roy cut in again. He could practically hear Maes pout across the phone line.
“At least take a minute to talk to my darling princess! Nina, come talk to Uncle Roy!”
“No, Hughes, I have to-“ Roy began, but too late.
“Uncle Roy?” Nina’s small and calm voice asked, politely. Roy smiled slightly. Nina was like a prim woman in a ten year old body.
“Hello, Nina. I hear you’ve been drawing portraits?” He asked warmly.
“Did Papa call you just to tell you that?” she asked, her voice incredulous. Roy chuckled as he confirmed her fears. Nina clucked her tongue. “I’m sorry he bothered you at work, Uncle Roy. I’ll draw your picture next time you visit, okay? I’m going to hang up so you can work.”
“Alright Nina, I’ll look forward to it. Good bye.” Roy said before hanging up. Nina was far more sensible than her adopted father. Glancing at the wall clock, he counted how many hours he had left until he needed to catch his train to Risembool. A recent letter from Winry had unnerved him, and he decided to surprise her with a visit.
He didn’t want a family of his own. He felt bad enough having destroyed someone else’s.
He’d never told Winry the truth about his repeated visits. Roy had been coming to see her regularly since she was a small child, bringing her presents and stories from East City. Pinako didn’t ask, but somehow Roy thought she knew anyhow. It was the distant and searching look that she gave him sometimes, as he sat at her kitchen table and listened to Winry babble about her latest mechanical project.
He never told her, or explained, why he put himself in Winry’s life. Even if he did, what could he say? “Sorry Mrs. Rockbell, I seem to have killed your children by order of the military. But now I feel bad for orphaning your granddaughter, so I’m going to spoil her rotten for the rest of her life.”
Somehow he didn’t think that would go over very well.
In any event, Pinako had accepted his presence, and in her own way, she seemed to have forgiven him. Roy would never forgive himself, but so long as he knew Winry was happy and healthy, he could keep going forward.
He would keep trying to make up for his biggest mistake.