Best Royai Slow Burn Fanfics
The best slow burn Royai (Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye) fanfiction on AO3, curated by popularity. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance.
Top Royai Slow Burn Fic Recs
2 slow burn Royai fics matched, followed by other top-rated Royai stories.
Dawn of the Empire
Slow Burnby NightFuryGirl12
The Republic has fallen, with the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take its place. It's a dangerous time for everyone as they adjust to the regime, but particularly for the surviving Jedi that have been forced into hiding. Even so, everyone is searching for something. Mustang and Hawkeye are sear
The Price of Truth
Slow Burnby strukli
Working behind the counter means hearing everything. Soldiers celebrating promotions, politicians speaking too freely, State Alchemists drowning their regrets, and whispered rumors that never make it into the newspapers. It's enough to convince you that Amestris is rotting beneath its polished surfa
Gateside; Phoenix
by vanetar
An alchemical accident throws Mustang through the Gate into London, 1995. He just finished one secret revolution against a corrupt fascist government, and now he's stuck in another? Also, this "magic" is bullshit. Updates (currently) the last day of the month.
The Past Will Never Stop Haunting You
by Butifarra3000
Riza gets kidnapped by one of her father’s ex-apprentices in search of the secrets to flame alchemy. Team Mustang works to rescue her.
Written Confessions
by erimeows
Struggling to cope with her life after The Promised Day, Riza Hawkeye starts writing romance to escape. When she realizes that the stories she's crafting are eerily similar to the fantasies she has about Roy Mustang, she does everything she can to keep him from finding out about her true feelings. B
Snaps
by erimeows
It's not abnormal for him to get hard at random times, but it's never like this without Riza nearby, all warm and intense and overwhelming. Roy forces the clothes on before walking out to the living room. He can't masturbate now and tire himself out- not when Riza is due to come over just hours from
Fullmetal: Peace of the Action
by bekanotbecky
This city liked to pretend it was civilized—brick buildings, pressed suits, polite smiles. Scratch the surface and you hit rot. Everyone worked for someone, and the ones who didn’t ended up face‑down in an alley. The gangs ran the streets, the politicians ran the gangs, and the cops were just anothe
How Simple Life Can Be
by Fears_and_Things
After the events of the Promised Day, Edward and Alphonse are left out of commission and in need of a place to stay. Roy picks Riza Hawkeye's apartment to be their new home for the time being.
These Are Their Stories
by Lynyangell
In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In Central City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Taskforce. These are their stories...
Diplopia
by BaiBitch
“Al…y’know, I don’t know for sure what’s gonna happen when we destroy it.” “I know.” “You can go back. It’s still open” “I know.” “...Winry and Granny’ll be sad.” “I know.” Edward looks at his little brother, and wonders when he grew up so much. He’d only missed a year, but it felt like a lifetime.
Blood Red & Standard Blue
by Rajani_the_Freak
Soulmates were one of the few things that were still unexplained by Alchemy.All that was known was that a person needed to create a writing or drawing utensil and it had to be sufficiently imbued with the writer’s interests and passions during its making for it to work. Once that was accomplished, t
By Any Other Name
by ForFun100
Riza Hawkeye has been living her life as Rowen – her twin brother who came into existence the second her father died without a proper heir. Now she finds herself caught up in a scheme to finally get Prince Roy Mustang on the throne by… pretending to be herself… This will end well. Royai Week 2026 Da
I Promise You Do (You Matter Too)
by ForFun100
Riza’s having a baby, which means she’s having a baby shower. One of her little invitees has a question she already has an answer to.
Like To Stay
by erimeows
Riza never joins the military and unknowingly escapes the horrors of Ishval, but finds herself struggling financially as a result. Roy, desperate to help an old friend, balances the stress of doing so while also navigating how to tell her the truth about... Well, everything. ~ Canon-Divergent Royai
Ed Was(n’t) Worried
by Hablrand_was_here
Roy doesn’t come home when he should and Ed pretends he isn’t worried even though he is.
Lullaby to my two State Alchemists
by Teacup_the_cup
Im a world where Trisha never died from the plague, she moves into Central with her sons and becomes a nanny for the Tucker household. When tragedy strikes, not once but twice, she has no other choice than to rely on a certain Colonel and his team in order to fix her sons and her own heart.
Goshawk
by carp_al_tunnel (cherry_peach_lemon)
Instead of being reassigned as the Fuhrer's personal assistant and hostage, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye gets kicked up to Briggs.
Fears
by sarabethloves
Roy is shocked to discover a fact about his lieutenant while the team are relaxing from a mission in the south. He didn't expect his strong and courageous adjutant to be this scared of snakes. Team Mustang. Royai if you squint.
Soft Things and Softer Moments
by Glitter_Bondage
A rare quiet night left Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye at home alone together. A harmless surprise in the apartment turned an ordinary evening into something soft, domestic, and a little ridiculous.
The Hair Clip
by Glitter_Bondage
Roy Mustang had one thing left of Riza Hawkeye. It wasn't enough. It never could be.
Find More Royai Slow Burn Stories on AO3
Browse the full AO3 archive for slow burn Royai fanfiction, sorted by kudos. Then read offline with Fanfict Reader.
Why Slow Burn Royai Fanfiction Works So Well
Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye — The devoted partnership between Colonel Roy Mustang and his trusted lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, bound by duty and shared ideals.
Slow Burn — A romance that develops gradually over time, with tension building across chapters or the entire story.
Their unwavering loyalty, professional restraint hiding deep feelings, and perfect partnership creates compelling military romance. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance. That's why slow burn Royai fanfiction is one of the most consistently popular combinations on AO3.
More Royai Tropes
Royai · Hurt/Comfort
One character is hurt (physically or emotionally) and another provides comfort and care.
Read hurt-comfort →
Royai · Angst
Stories focused on emotional pain, drama, and intense feelings.
Read angst →
Royai · Mutual Pining
Both characters are in love with each other but believe their feelings are unrequited. Readers can see the truth while characters remain oblivious.
Read mutual-pining →
Slow Burn in Other Ships
Love slow burn? Explore the same trope in other popular pairings:
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