Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Of Ballet and Bullets ❯ Who's Coming to Dinner ( Chapter 3 )

Of Ballet and Bullets

 

Part 3 - Who's Coming to Dinner

 

A Full Metal Alchemist fanfiction, By Serenanna

 

Warnings and Disclaimers: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist or any of the characters. I'm just borrowing them to play with. I'll return them later, promise. There is violence, adult content, and sexual situations in this story, just some of it isn't in this chapter. So, if you're under 18, leave now before your virgin eyes are scarred forever, if you're over 18, enjoy!

 

Story Notes: Time frame for this fic doesn't matter as my knowledge of FMA is a bit scattered but obviously before the ending and Maes's death, and set during the anime series. Also, this is an Ed/Winry and Roy/Riza fic (Two for the price of one!). Being this is fanfiction, liberties were taken with the actions of the characters and certain parts of the fic are not canonal, I just don't know which ones. This fic hinges on a lot more plot compared to the last time out in Overhaul, Overhaul 2, and A Betting Crowd, which I recommend reading before diving into this. This one has violent action scenes, suspense, humor, and mild angst in it, so the sex and romance may be few and far between. In summary, you're all getting what I call a real plot. No, really, I'm actually working on a real plot this time! Beta reading has been done by Darkilluser. (Thank you!) Read the above disclaimers again if you're still squeamish about reading this, blood splatter included, but I assure you, it'll be worth it in the end probably. Again, no pieces of automail, skirts, guns, tuxedoes, or ballet dancers were harmed in the production of this piece of . . . well . . .

 

***********

 

Ed grumbled as he walked down the street two steps behind Lieutenant Hawkeye, the sun setting early. What was left of the snow looked orange and crimson in the fading daylight, not counting the occasional spots of dirt and stones left from plowing it off the streets. It would have struck him as pretty if he weren't dwelling on everything else that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. He'd been shot at more times than he could remember. He'd run for his life, which wasn't anything too new or unfamiliar, just his normal chases never lasted that long. His brother had gotten shot too, but a little alchemy patched that up.

 

And now?

 

He was going into hiding in a woman's apartment. Edward didn't like the idea himself, but the flabbergasted look on Colonel Mustang's face when she proposed the idea, let alone went ahead with it was worth it. Yup, after he had declared that he had no clue what to do, this was the grand scheme the adults had cooked up for his safety. He was to hide out in the Lieutenant's apartment, while Al would be staying with the Armstrong's till it was all clear. His poor brother was stuck with the Strong Arm alchemist for who knew how long, but at least he was out of danger. But then again, if the Major's family was anything like him . . . maybe he was getting the better end of the deal by going with Riza.

 

Edward tried not to feel too oddly about it as he watched the Lieutenant in front of him. She was dressed in a grey wool suit, charcoal grey long coat with a heavy fox-fur collar, and a red-knitted scarf over her neck, nearly hidden under her long blond hair. He did like her, he supposed, as a friend, and she was certainly easier to get along with than the Colonel. She turned the corner, and he followed behind her, stopping only to steady the brown grocery bag he carried. After sneaking out the back of Headquarters dressed like civilians, the first thing Miss Hawkeye decided with her new charge was that they needed food, lots of food, and Edward couldn't agree more. He wished though that they'd gotten him some more clothes. The plain brown wool slacks and blue shirt he wore under the heavy drab brown trench coat and white scarf were alright if a little big, but he didn't know how many changes he had left in his small pack.

 

She looked over the nearly empty street, scanning the rooftops as well as each alley and side road they crossed. He bit the inside of his lip to keep from feeling nervous, still jumpy after all the shooting. But, he did feel safer around someone who knew how to shoot back, and even safer knowing she was carrying a rifle under that coat. And yet, he found himself scanning the streets they passed too, fidgeting with the new brown wool cap on his head. Riza looked over her shoulder and smiled reassuringly, “Relax, Edward, we're almost there.”

 

“That's easy for you to say . . .” he muttered, ducking his head behind the fruit in the top of the tall bag, “No one wants to squash you head like an over-ripe melon.”

 

“I'm in the military too, and I've been shot at more times than I care to remember, maybe even more so Roy, so you're safe with me,” she said with another warm smile that finally made him relax enough to stop fidgeting as she continued, “I know this isn't an ideal situation, but we'll make the best of it, I'm just glad my apartment has a spare room.”

 

“It was nice of you, but aren't you putting yourself in danger too?” he asked, his eyebrows scrunched together. Riza's smile faded somewhat, reminded of the young alchemist's intellect despite the lack of maturity. “That's why we're going to be cautious, and I'll need you to follow my orders, alright? I know you argue with the Colonel because you doubt his interests, but don't doubt mine,” she said without turning around, back to watching the sidewalks as they crossed another street.

 

“Yes, Ma'am.”

 

“Did Jean get everything you needed from your rooms?”

 

“Yes, ma'am. Well, except for a few things . . .”

 

“I'm sure he tried to cram what he could into your pack, but taking your suitcase might have looked suspicious . . .” she said, remembering that argument when he wanted to bring some of those alchemy books crammed into his pack instead of the already limited amount of clothes he had, “If it's anything very important, I'll see if I can get him to pick them up tomorrow.”

 

“Thank you . . . I suppose it's pointless to ask, but did you learn anything about who's trying to kill me?” he questioned, but all she could do was shake her head. Edward sighed, and so did Riza. She didn't like this any more than he did. After listening to Roy's story of their ordeal, it didn't make sense to her. It didn't seem like a professional job at all, or else the department would have been mourning over their dead bodies. That thought chilled her more than the winter wind as it picked up. No, they were dealing with rank amateurs, probably hired thugs who didn't know proper sharp shooting. She'd hit one of them today, but when a second team went to investigate, the body was gone except for the blood. Maybe they weren't complete amateurs, just smart ones.

 

It also bothered her that there was a mole somewhere in Headquarters.

 

Maybe Roy had the right approach to paperwork after all by doing it last minute, especially for such secret operations like raids. Regardless, when she had told the office of her discovery while working with Maes, and that it was handed over to Internal Affairs, the Colonel looked even more put out than when she mentioned her plan to hide Edward. His usual unflappable exterior had cracked behind his eyes while he remained hidden behind his usual calculatingly calm expression. Could this have been the scenario of total disaster he feared? Probably not, but it wasn't good. She almost pitied Kain and Heymans tonight, as they'd been ordered to stay late into the night to go over all their old cases. If they just had a lead, a motive, something . . . she wouldn't feel so useless. But, Riza supposed, being a bodyguard for Ed for the time being was useful. “You know, this is probably the first time since learning alchemy that I felt, well . . .” Edward started to admit before stopping, “I guess I do have some short-comings after all.”

 

She couldn't help but burst out in laughter at the pun, trying not to let it distract her as she covered her mouth with her hand. Surprisingly, Ed found himself chuckling too even if it was deeply embarrassing, “You didn't hear that from me.”

 

“Oh, trust me, Major FullMetal, I am very discreet on such . . . err, matters,” she said, but still giggled. Somehow he had a sense of foreboding that his quote would be the talk of the office tomorrow between breaks in the investigation. He smirked and moved up next to her side, “Um, if I may ask, ma'am, but what am I going to do while hiding out? I can already see this becoming very boring very quickly.”

 

“Well, we'll think of something. I know I don't have any books on alchemy, but I do keep a few story books you might like, and you can also start by calling me Riza. As much as I appreciate the manners, hearing ma'am non-stop at the office is quite enough,” she stated before stopping to wonder if Roy felt the same way about when she called him `sir' outside of the office out of habit.

 

“Yes, ma-err, Riza . . . Ed's fine too, no one calls me Edward really unless they're mad at me,” he said with a slight smirk as he knew he was lying. There were moments when Winry called him Edward, and she was all things but mad at those times. With a blush, he remembered back to the last time she said it, vividly. He shifted the bag in his arms again as he didn't want to remember the episode that well at the moment. Unfortunately, Riza noticed, her brown eyes blinking. She didn't think it was that cold or windy to make him that flushed. Last thing she needed was a sick Edward Elric. “Are you ok?” she asked, half tempted to touch his forehead to see if he had a fever.

 

“Uhh,” he started, a little stunned when he blushed about ten shades of red, “Yeah, just thinking really, nothing important.”

 

“If you say so . . .” she said even if her eyes narrowed in curiosity. Riza was starting to wonder what had gotten into him when they finally came to the iron fence around her building. It was a welcoming sight to see, snow covering the ivy that clung to the brickwork on the exterior. She lead him through gate and up one of the shoveled garden paths, then in through the heavy oak door after pulled her key out of her satchel. They went up to the second floor, both of them much more relaxed now that they weren't out in the open. “The laundry is in the basement when you need it, and all the apartments have their own kitchens and baths, most of the other tenants aren't around . . .” she trailed off as she looked down the hallway to see an old lady emerging from one of the apartments, her neighbor, “. . . much.”

 

Ed peeked over the top of the bag, curious, as the old woman walked towards them, leaning heavily on her wooden cane. For a moment, she reminded him of Pinako, but half as spry and with twice the height, girth, and perfume as he tried not to wrinkle his nose at the clotting yet stringent scent, like honeysuckle and mothballs. Riza seemed to recognize her as she smiled, but he noticed that it didn't reach up to her brown eyes, “Mrs. Greagor, so nice to see you again. Everything's well I hope.”

 

“As to be expected, young lady. It is good to see you again too, as I had a favor to ask, oh,” she started to say before her grey eyes moved over to Edward, noticing him for the first time, “And who's this fine young man?”

 

“Uh, Edward-.”

 

“Edward Hawkeye, Mrs. Greagor,” Riza cut in before he could utter the word `Elric', “My nephew.”

 

He tried not to gawk but couldn't keep his eyes from widening in shock. It was a good thing the old lady didn't notice, “Oh, this is the first time I've met your family, you never told me he was visiting.”

 

“It was a sudden trip.”

 

“He looks like you, must still be young for his height,” she said with a soft laugh as he scowled a moment, “Staying long?”

 

“Um . . . no idea yet, his parents wanted me to look after him while they sort out . . . matters.”

 

“Poor child . . .” she said with enough sympathy that he was starting to feel guilty that they were lying to her, “Oh dear, I hope this doesn't put a hamper on my favor to ask of you.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Yes, I know you're a busy girl, but since you don't have any gentlemen callers, and rarely much else to do but work and take care of your dog, I was wondering if you could look over my apartment starting tomorrow. I have to go away for a while, to see my niece and my new grand niece. I'm a great aunt, so hard to believe . . . oh, but if you're busy with your own family . . .” the old woman said, something about the pleading look in her grey eyes reminding him of someone. He could feel Riza tense while standing next to him, noticing her gloved hands tightened into fists. And yet, she kept smiling, looking peacefully serene. “I think I can handle it, Mrs. Greagor,” she said, her tone a little too polite for Ed's liking, “It would be a pleasure.”

 

“Oh, dear girl, thank you so much! Now, make sure to water all the plants, and feed the cats. I have their feed all labeled, oh, and you might want to keep that pup of yours away from the ginger one, you remember what happened last time they crossed paths. I'll drop the key off in the morning.”

 

“Yes, Mrs. Greagor.”

 

“You sure I'm not imposing?”

 

“Not at all, Mrs. Greagor.”

 

“Bless you, thank you again,” she said with a bright smile before tottering towards the stairs, stopping to turn towards Riza again, “I do hope you find a nice young man soon, Miss Hawkeye, better than that shady looking dark-haired fellow. He seems too charming for his own good.”

 

“I hope so too . . .” the Lieutenant ground out between her teeth, and the old lady was gone, down the stairs. Somewhere in the point of the conversation, Ed's eyebrows had shot up, trying to make sense of what had just happened, and why Riza looked angry when she opened the door to the apartment. She nearly slammed the door behind her after letting him in, pulling off her scarf in a huff, “Damn that blasted woman!”

 

Setting the bag of groceries down on a table near an open kitchen, the young alchemist blinked again at the outburst, not used to hearing her angry, “She seemed nice . . .”

 

Suddenly he felt like Al, probably sounded like him too. Riza didn't notice as she pulled off her coat more carefully, handling the rifle hidden underneath delicately. “She's nice if you don't notice the strings she's pulling at the same time,” she muttered while hanging the coat on a series of pegs by the door and leaning the gun against the wall, “Don't fuss with the food, take your coat off, and put your pack down.”

 

“Strings? You mean she's . . . manipulative?”

 

“Worse than the Colonel, and twice as effective. Sweet, little old ladies are hard to resist. Special Ops could take a lesson or two from her, not to mention she's too nosy for her own good, and she lets her precious cats run wild. The ginger one's the ringleader, and last summer the damned thing scratched up Hayate before he bit her. Those scratches were worse than the bite but the old woman won't let me forget it,” Riza said as she starting pulling the containers from the bag, running them back and forth to the ice box while muttering to herself, “The nerve of her, my love life is my own business, and not subject to her opinion, and to call Roy shady looking is a-.”

 

Her ranting stopped short as she realized she said that out loud while bent over putting bottle of milk inside with Edward not five paces behind her holding small bag of tomatoes, “You don't breathe a word of what I just said to anyone.”

 

It was suddenly hard for him not to grin, “Right, nothing about your love life or Colonel Mustang being shady looking.”

 

Riza groaned as she stood up, holding her head in her hands. That was about the last thing she needed after an encounter with her nosy old busybody neighbor. For a brief moment she wondered if she should ask the teenager how much he understood about her relationship with Roy, but then thought better of it. There was the hope that he was still innocent to the whole affair, yet. The fact that their whole office knew about it for months, and chose to remain tight-lipped on their own was lucky enough, but if the Elrics knew . . .

 

Maybe this wasn't as genius of a plan after all.

 

**********

 

Roy knew this was a bad idea as soon as she'd said it, but, damned if she wasn't convincing. One look of those big, brown eyes of hers and he melted. He never, never, ever would have melted in the first place if he didn't know for a fact that she slept with a rifle by her bedroom door and a handgun under her pillow. It didn't help that since the shooting he was turning paranoid as hell, not just for Ed's safety but also for hers. What bothered him the most as he walked through the snow wasn't that they were letting the kid crash at her place, but that the kid in question had a giant bulls-eye stuck to him. This was all types of trouble, which was why he changed their plans, slightly, as he walked up the steps to her apartment with his old service pack slung over his back. He didn't look too dressed up to impress, black wool trousers, a white shirt, and black long coat with matching brimmed hat. Just in case, he brought food and flowers with him as a peace offering to Riza, and some spare alchemy books to appease Edward.

 

He found her door easily enough, taking off his hat before knocking. By the second time his knuckles rapped on the wood, it opened, and a disgruntled looking stood Ed on the other side sneering at him. He turned and stalked off across the living room to the couch, “Riza, it's for you.”

 

Mustang could smell tomatoes and garlic wafting through the air as he stepped inside, trying not to frown at his welcome. He heard a clatter of pots from the kitchen and a sigh before she walked into the room, and stopped. Roy grinned at the shock on her face, as well as admiring the way her plain white apron looked over her grey fitted slacks and cream-colored blouse. He had to admit she looked just as pretty being domestic as she did in uniform. “Sir? What are you doing here?” She asked, fighting down a blush.

 

“Riza, please, we're not in the office now are we,” he said with a wide grin.

 

Her head tilted to the side, noticing the bag he carried as well as the standard-issue pack, “Ok, Roy, what the hell are you doing here?”

 

“Dinner?”

 

“Looks like two dinners, and a few breakfasts from here,” Ed said from the worn green couch across the room. He was lazily sprawled over one of the arms, tugging on one end of an old rawhide bone as Black Hayate tugged on the other. Roy frowned more deeply, squashing the pang of jealousy he felt at watching the teenager play with the pup before turning back to Riza, “Change of plans.”

 

“If you're taking him anywhere else, forget it.”

 

“I out rank you, but that's not what I had in mind.”

 

“Damnit Roy!” Hawkeye yelled as she threw the rag she cleaned her hands with at him, and stormed back into the kitchen. It bounced off the paper bag and landed at his feet. He put the pack down by the door, and hung up his hat and coat while ignoring the dark looks from Edward as he followed her, still carrying the bag of groceries. The scent of tomatoes and aromatics only intensified as he leaned against the doorway, watching as she angrily chopped into a head of lettuce. “You cannot sweet talk me into letting you watch over him. I can only imagine what would happen,” she said, a quiet, disconcerting anger in her voice, “He wouldn't need assassins after him because you both would at each other throats till one of you was a cold corpse.”

 

“You're probably right, but that wasn't my idea at all remember,” Roy said, not daring to move in any further as she pointed the large chef's knife at him, “It was more along the lines of a shared responsibility . . .”

 

Riza's eyes widened as his meaning hit home, “Oh god, you want to move in don't you?”

 

He grinned, and she turned nearly white.

 

“Are you insane!?” she hissed through her teeth, desperately trying to keep her voice down as well as her composure, “I only have one other room, what are you going to do, sleep on the couch!? You are not using this situation as an excuse to get into my bed anytime you feel like! And do you know how suspicious this'll be to anyone watching this place?! You may out rank me, but this is my home, and I will not have you-!”

 

“Riza, stop, I already have a plan worked out,” he said, much too calmly for her liking and still grinning.

 

“Does this plan involve climbing down the rain pipes?”

 

He frowned, and she snorted in laughter at her own joke, “No, why else do you think I showed up in civilian clothes? We need to look at this realistically, if we have a mole in Headquarters, we can't logically be seen going back and forth from there, and if something did happen, you'll need more than just your guns to fight it, so . . . after you left I worked out some things with Maes and the others. Havoc is in charge of the office work, and Hughes is covering the rest of the investigation while the three of us disappear into this little apartment for a few days, like a nice happy family.”

 

Riza didn't buy it at all as he tried to smile sincerely, but what was she going to do about? He did out rank her, and there were certain advantages to a second bodyguard. And yet, the blonde still frowned. She turned towards the cast iron stove and the pot of simmering tomato sauce as he put the bag down on the counter, “I take it they'll be calling us then with the latest?”

 

“Yes, I even have Jean cooking the forms so it looks like we're heading to East City for hiding,” he said before pausing, no longer smiling as he moved next to her, “I also made sure that your line was secure, just in case.”

 

Her head whipped towards him, her mouth dropping open as she remember how many forms it took to get an order for a secure line through from the switchboards. Sometimes it still didn't stop the telephone operators from listening in. That was why she never let him call her at home. Roy put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, trying to keep her from flying off the handle again, “Relax, darling, I sent Fuery over to the Central switchboard with a pile of requests. Your number is one in a thousand lines now secure, and if anything fishy happens, they'll be so flooded with paperwork afterwards that it'll take a month to sort out which line to listen to.”

 

“I'm . . . impressed,” she said as her frown turned into a smirk, “You actually made all that paperwork you avoid work for you, how ironic. If only you behaved like this every day.”

 

Roy beamed at her with pride as she lifted the spoon from the pot to taste it, “So can I stay? Please? I'll be good, I promise, see? I got you flowers, I'll clean, I'll cook, I'll even walk the dog, and-.”

 

Before he could promise anymore he found the sauce laden spoon being shoved into his mouth, mumbling on it as she spoke, “Fine, but . . . you have to break the sleeping arrangements to Edward over dinner, gently, or else it's the couch. More pepper?”

 

He nodded to her when the spoon was removed from his mouth, agreeing, “More pepper.”

 

**********

 

Riza's simple request of him now seemed monumental over the course of the meal of spaghetti, salad, and garlic toast. Neither of them talked, much, and if they did say anything to each other aside from asking for something, it came out as a snide remark or a derisive, petty argument. When they weren't blaming each other for the midday shooting fiasco, they were antagonizing each other with insults including various synonyms for short, useless, self-absorbed, and reckless, and round and round it went. If she had to put up with this for days on end, she could easily see shooting them both as a solution. No, that would kind of defeat the purpose now wouldn't it? Behavioral training immediately came to her mind as another option. If the threat of getting shot worked wonders on Hayate, it would certainly do some good on the two of them.

 

Her last nerve finally broke when as Roy started to clear the dishes without needing prompting, another grumbled comment coming from Ed as he retreated towards the couch again, “At least you're useful for something.”

 

She could see Roy twitch, knowing that if he had his gloves on there would have been a nice black burn mark on her oak floors where the young alchemist was. This had to stop. Before either of them could move further, she leapt up to her feet so fast that her chair fell over backwards, and slammed her hands down on the table as it shook, “Sit!”

 

At first, only Hayate obeyed, as he was still eating from his dog bowl in the corner. Slowly the two males reluctantly took their seats again after glancing around nervously for her guns. It took her a moment to set her chair back up and regain her composure, looking pleasantly polite and calm despite the momentary outburst, “You're both are to stay here, work out your differences, and talk like civilized men. When I get back with coffee and my handgun, that had better be what I'm seeing.”

 

She took the plates from Roy, and turned sharply, going into the kitchen while leaving them staring at each other. It was an uncomfortable, uneasy silence between them, like two stubborn mountain goats getting ready to butt heads. It was obvious from the start of dinner that to Roy that Edward didn't want him here, but he couldn't figure out why. Was it was just hate between them, the alchemistic rivalry, or damn, it wasn't jealousy was it? Of course not, Riza loved him. If she felt anything for the brat it was from her compassionate side, like a mother hen for the one the Elric boys had lost. There he was again, painting the two of them into parents' roles where they obviously weren't needed. It was hard not to though, as the only authority figures left in their lives. Maybe that was the root of the problem after all. He slumped into his chair, brewing on that thought as Ed blinked at him, confused and annoyed as the Flame Alchemist seemed to be backing down, “What is it?”

 

“You didn't by chance hear my conversation with Hawkeye while we were cooking?”

 

The teenage slumped back in his chair too, crossing his arms, “So what if I did?”

 

“Then I assume you know of my relationship with the Lieutenant then?”

 

Ed suddenly felt uncomfortable, his eyes shifting towards the kitchen as they heard the running water in the sink. That was one part of the conversation he hadn't wanted to know about, but he already suspected something of it earlier from Riza's admission. He wasn't blind either. In retrospect though, he was until he actually thought about the Colonel and his Lieutenant. He blushed slightly, avoiding Roy's gaze, “I get it, I just don't want to know the details.”

 

A grin spread over Mustang's face. It was too tempting to make the brat squirm, and it would probably be educational for him too, but he couldn't. Riza would then kill him for certain. “I also assume you know that we've been trying to keep it from becoming public knowledge,” he said, going back to being serious, “There are people that might use it against us.”

 

Ed nodded, understanding him completely, given his own weaknesses in Al and Winry, “You don't have to ask, I'm not telling anyone any time soon anyway, but . . .”

 

“But what?”

 

“Well, considering it's my head these assassins are after, can you not hide anything dealing with the investigation from me, for once? I don't like being treated like a child,” Ed said as he scowled again. Roy scowled back. There was no use in avoiding an argument any longer, “You are a child to me as long as you keep acting like one. If you want to be treated like an adult then earn it. That means you learn to obey and follow orders like the other adults under my command, and stop goddamn questioning every little thing I tell you to do.”

 

“Maybe I will, once you prove you're not out for yourself! I am not blind, I am not innocent, I am not weak, and I certainly am not fucking stupid! But I must be all four, mustn't I, to be able to dumbly follow whatever you say, sir!” there was a deep-seated venom in Edward's voice, as he was practically hoping out of his chair. But it didn't move Roy at all, as he just looked back. It only took one question to unravel the kid's entire argument, “Do you think Riza is all four of those things too?”

 

Ed immediately grasped onto the logic and slowly sat back down, “No . . . when she does questions your orders; you actually listen to her . . . except when it comes to paperwork.”

 

Mustang groaned, “Everyone and the fucking paperwork.”

 

The young alchemist snickered, smiling slightly till it turned back into a frown, “But you do see my point right? I don't like being told what to do without a reason, and I don't like being treated like I can't understand anything.”

 

“So this is what you want to know then, the logic behind the things I do?”

 

“Now he gets it,” Ed said with a roll of his eyes, “I don't understand why I have to be kept in the dark, but still be expected to understand what needs to be done and do it.”

 

“Because, Edward, once you do know, and do understand, then you really will be an adult. The reason I don't tell you every little thing is because you're still a boy whether you agree with it or not. You're still learning and still making choices that'll affect you the rest of your life, I . . .” Roy stopped as he put his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his folding hands, “I want you to understand and believe me when I say what I'm doing is not for my interests, but for everyone's. If I were exactly what you think I am, I'd be stepping on you on the way to the top, not saving your life.”

 

“I can save myself thank you very much,” Ed said sarcastically, ignoring the rest of what he had said, even if he heard it.

 

“Really now? Wanna step outside, go back to your apartments, and prove that?”

 

“Bastard.”

 

“Brat.”

 

There was another silence between them as Ed finally let Roy's words sink in before he finally asked, “Is that why everyone follows you? Because they know the real reasons behind everything?”

 

“It's not that simple, but yes, part of it.”

 

“And the rest?”

 

“Because I don't just tell them what to do for my own benefit, and then sit back to look good like you'd think. It's because I ask them to follow my lead. That's what leading by example means.”

 

“Really, can you lead by example in stormy weather?” Edward asked with a grin. Roy groaned as he chuckled, banging his head on the tabletop. “Everyone and the fucking useless in water bit,” he muttered, “I may be a one-trick pony when it comes to alchemy, but I always have backup plans.”

 

“And your backup plan when we got shot at was what? Giving them my head on a platter?”

 

“No, but I'm sure I would have thought of something involving lots of property damage.”

 

The two of them were grinning at each other despite their animosity. Roy stopped grinning first, “So, do you think we can live in peace for at least however long this takes to solve?”

 

“If you expect me to not argue at all, you've got another thing coming, but . . . I'll try not to purposefully piss you off.”

 

“No weather jokes?”

 

“No short jokes either.”

 

“Deal,” Roy said as he made a gesture he rarely made towards Edward. He held out his hand in front of the young alchemist. A little hesitant, the blond boy took it, “Deal.”

 

They shook hands with all the air of a hard-fought peace agreement about it. After breaking, another silence fell over them as the noise from the kitchen stopped too. “Riza?” the Colonel called out, trying not to sound too worried.

 

As if on cue, the Lieutenant walked out of the kitchen with a small tray holding three mugs full of hot coffee, three bowls of chocolate ice cream, and a small, holstered handgun just in case. She grinned at them as she put the tray down. Edward immediately snagged one of the bowls, not noticing as she moved up next to him. The bowl and his spoon clattered to the table as he felt her hug him, turning bright red in a matter of moments. Likewise, Roy nearly dropped his mug of coffee in his lap at the sight, quickly setting it down on the table. A pang of jealousy went off on his heart as the kid sputtered but didn't dare push her off. Riza finally let go and walked around the table, hugging Mustang as well without so much as an explanation. Despite himself, the dark-haired man blushed too, wondering what the hell had gotten into her till she was snuggled against his neck. “You heard all that didn't you?” he asked as a lop-sided grin worked its way onto his face.

 

She nodded, speaking softly, “Ed isn't the only one here allowed to overhear things.”

 

Riza hugged Mustang even tighter despite his sigh and consequential whine, "You're incorrigible."

 

"I'm so proud of you!"

 

"And you're adorable, don't ever do that again," Roy said to the beaming Lieutenant with a grin. He continued to mutter to himself as she giggled, kissing his neck. He turned his head and captured her lips with his, murmuring into each other's mouths with small moans, giggles, and chuckles. Across the table and obviously forgotten, Edward blinked, still blushing and now uncomfortable before smirking. If this was how adults in love acted, than he was obviously more mature in his relationship with Winry than either of them. “If you're both finished . . .” he said a little loudly, “I'd like to keep dinner and dessert in my stomach.”

 

Mustang and Hawkeye broke apart as if nothing ever happened. She took her seat, sipping on her coffee as Roy muttered, “Now, FullMetal, doing that sort of thing is what being an adult is all about.”

 

“Not listening,” he muttered back into his bowl of ice cream, his ears burning red.

 

“Roy . . .”

 

“The boy deserves some education, Riza; if he didn't keep his nose stuck in an alchemy book I'm sure he would have had a little girlfriend of his own right now.”

 

Ed gagged on a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, turning various shades of red again. If only they know. “Roy . . .” she said with a threatening edge on her voice.

 

Apparently it wasn't enough of a threat, “When I was his age, I had at least-.”

 

“Roy . . .”

 

“So very not listening . . .”

 

“Oh come on, Edward, how do you think you and your brother got here? The stork?”

 

“Roy!” Riza yelled at him, blushing herself, “Not another word . . .”

 

“If you're planning on having `that' talk, you're four years too late,” Edward mumbled on the spoon hanging from his mouth, pretending to be more interested in that than the glares the Lieutenant was giving Mustang, “Who at this table was there when Elysia was born? That's probably more first-hand knowledge of exactly how babies are born than either of you have.”

 

There was silence from the two of them as Ed went back to eating, all of them bearing similarly red faces. After a few bites of ice cream though, Roy couldn't leave well enough alone, “So I take it Maes gave you both `that' talk?”

 

“More or less.”

 

“He didn't use diagrams did he?”

 

Riza groaned and covered her face with her hands, her spoon clattering to the table, “No more discussions on sex at the table from either of you.”

 

“Aw, darling, that embarrassed?”

 

“Hell yes, especially from ones doing the discussing. Open your mouth again on the topic, and you'll get no further into this apartment than the couch.”

 

“What about the bathroom.”

 

“I'm sure a cup will work.”

 

For a moment, Roy looked stricken, his dark eyes widening in shock before turning into a pleading look. Ed chuckled, unable to contain himself any longer. At the noise, the Colonel stopped, smirking at the teenager, “Let this be your first lesson in women, FullMetal. There are only two things men are completely vulnerable to from women, a slap in the face, and threats of sleeping on the couch.”

 

“At least she doesn't have a doghouse to put you up in.”

 

“If he keeps it up, think you can transmute me one?”

 

“With pleasure.”

 

Mustang glared at them both, muttering as he raised his cup of coffee, “Everyone and fucking mutiny.”

 

**********

 

Edward was on his back in the middle of the night in an uncomfortable bed staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Only moments ago had the rhythmic thumping of wood hitting plaster stopped, and he was eternally grateful. And yet, he still couldn't sleep. It wasn't the thought of Roy and Riza doing `that' in her bedroom just across the short hallway, it was all the memories it brought up about his own significant other. He sighed as her name drifted through his mind, then turned over towards the door, the blankets shifting downwards, “Winry.”

 

After the meal, the two adults and he had set out some ground rules for the length of their stay. Ed wasn't allowed to leave the building without one of them, and any trips outside, unless for shopping or prearranged, had to be within shouting distance of the building. Each now had their own chores too, and one meal they were responsible for. Also, no one was to answer the phone or the door except for Hawkeye, for obvious reasons. Aside from all that, the hardest thing he had to agree to was no alchemy and no fighting inside the apartment. There went his hopes of a rematch after the re-examination. No matter what Mustang said, he still won in the end. There was also one bit of disappointing news. Because of the hits against him, Ed's leave to Rizembool was canceled. That hurt deeply. How was he ever going to explain it to Winry without her hitting him with every wrench she had, or worse, dissolving into tears.

 

He missed her a lot, a feeling that only grew the longer he stayed in that bed brewing over it. If he could just hear her voice once, maybe it would ease him enough to let him sleep. It was then that a thought occurred to him. They hadn't forbidden him from calling out, even long distance. Edward crawled out of bed wearing nothing but his boxers, rubbing his eyes a little. One good thing about the Lieutenant's apartment was the excellent heating from the iron radiators in each room that kept the place at a comfortable temperature even in winter.

 

Slowly, he opened the door to his room and padded down the small hallway, coming into the living room. It was dark, but the moonlight off the snow washed the whole floor in deep blue light so he didn't bother with any of the lamps. He found the telephone on the large wooden desk with a roll-top that rested against the wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the apartment. After plopping himself down in the rolling chair before it, Edward stared at the iron handle resting on top of the wooden box. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Knowing Winry, she'd be in bed at this time of the night, and when she slept, she didn't like to be disturbed for anything except him. In the darkness, he blushed, remembering some of those night time disturbances he'd caused her. Or maybe she was using that toy of hers again to relieve some of the ache of missing him. That was probably an option he should have considered instead of the phone, but . . . Edward groaned, hitting his head on the desk, “Winry won't mind if I call her, right? I rarely call her as it is, she'll be happy . . . right?”

 

There was only one way to find out. He picked up the telephone from its cradle and started turning the rotary with the number he had memorized as the Rockbells. He could hear it ringing on the other end, each one making his chest tighten till there was a click and the muffled sound of someone juggling the receiver. “Rockbell Automail of Rizembool, who the hell is this?” asked a sleepy but sweet sounding voice.

 

“Winry?”

 

“Edward?!” she asked loudly, sounding wide awake now, “What-? Why in the blazes are you calling this late at night?! . . . If you broke that damned automail again, I swear I'll come to Central and shove it right down your-!”

 

He chuckled and she stopped at the sound, letting him laugh till she asked, “This isn't about your automail is it?”

 

“Naw, it isn't.”

 

“It isn't about you coming from Central in the middle of the night either, is it?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“. . . It isn't like you to make purely social calls . . .” she said, which was the obvious truth, a hint of worry growing on her voice, “Something happened, didn't it?”

 

“Yeah . . .”

 

“And you won't tell me about?”

 

“I can't, not yet anyway . . .”

 

“You miss me, don't you?” she asked, sounding completely innocent. Edward groaned and flopped back in the chair, turning around in it as he stared up at the ceiling. “Badly,” he admitted, “This `thing' is making me give up leave, at least until it's over.”

 

“Edward . . .”

 

“I know, I know, I'm disappointed too, I wanted to see you so much, and . . .”

 

“I understand, so you'll probably be here after midwinter. It's alright. Granny said she thought you might be kept busy, so we didn't really plan any special. Though, I wish I could visit you.”

 

Ed tried not to cringe, knowing how much trouble that would be if she did visit him right then and there, “I wish you could too, but it isn't possible right now.”

 

“You're in danger, aren't you?”

 

“When am I not in some form of danger?”

 

“I wish you never signed up in the first place . . .”

 

“And then where would I be? Who would I be? Would you still love me if I was a useless nobody?”

 

“Damnit, Ed, it's too late to fight about this, and you already know my answer, don't you?”

 

He sighed, trying not to get choked up. She was right as he did know what she would say, that it didn't matter what he was or became so long as he didn't stop being himself. The mechanic girl was also right in that it was too late to fight over this, “I'm sorry.”

 

“Don't be . . . can you at least tell me where you are?”

 

“Would you believe me if I said I was in some other woman's apartment?” he asked rhetorically, grinning to himself. There was a gasp on the other end of the line. It was followed by Winry's shouting, “Edward! You two-timing, rat-fink! If you are-! Argh! I don't believe you!”

 

He laughed, trying to keep it down, “Relax, she's just a friend, you know her anyway.”

 

“Miss-?”

 

“Yeah, her,” he said, cutting her off before she could say `Hawkeye', “And she's not the only one here.”

 

“Colonel Bastard is there too, isn't he?”

 

“Yeah . . .”

 

“Are they? You know, `together'?” she asked, sounding extremely curious suddenly. Ed chuckled. After what he heard, it was hard to deny, “Yeah, but they're keeping it under wraps, or are at least trying to. It's probably the worst kept secret in all of Central.”

 

“You poor boy, no wonder you called me,” Winry said with a small laugh, the teasing yet seductive lilt on her voice making him shift in the chair, “Were they that loud to keep you up?”

 

He groaned, not wanting to think about it, “You're evil, but if you're that curious, yes, they were, but it wasn't the only thing bothering me.”

 

“Pity, but I suppose it is better if I'm the cause. I like thinking that you called because you were lonely and horny over me.”

 

“Well, I'm definitely lonely, and you're pushing the latter.”

 

She laughed, and he could hear her moving around on the other side. In the pause, he folded his legs up in the chair, swiveling around the face away from the desk. “I didn't wake you up did I?” Ed asked.

 

“Huh? No, I was up late working on a little girl's set of automail, she . . . had some sort of degenerative disease, no strength in her limbs, so instead of letting her waste away in a chair her parents want her to get the operations.”

 

Ed winched at the sound, the first time he'd heard of it being used to that extent, “That doesn't sound like a wise idea, how young is she?”

 

“Eleven, but she's strong, and just as willful at you.”

 

“Don't you feel bad though? She'll be in a lot of pain.”

 

“You handled it well, you still handle it well. But then again, that's what I'm also there for during the installation, to ease the pain, so . . . I want to do this,” she said before sighing almost wistfully, “Besides, they're great pieces, and so cute! I anodized the metal so that it's bubblegum pink with a rainbow polarized finish especially for her, and colored the nails by hand, and-!”

 

Edward chuckled as he pictured it, “Next time can I get mine colored black?”

 

“Oh, you and black, do you know how washed out it makes you look to wear all black? The red coat is an improvement, but . . .”

 

“Would I look better in maroon?” he asked grinning, and she groaned. They both laughed, coming down slowly. After a long moment, an idea sprung up in Edward's mind, one that made him blush, “So, what are you wearing?”

 

“What am I wearing? What kind of question is that?”

 

“Humor me.”

 

“Two alchemy-freaks walk into a bar-.”

 

“Winry!”

 

“You asked for me to humor you! Alright, fine . . . I'm wearing that thin, white silk nightgown you like, the one I've had to sew the straps back onto about five times now.”

 

“You're working on automail in your nightgown? . . . What's under it?”

 

“Edward!” she yelled at him, and he could just picture the pink blush creeping along her face as there was a long pause, “. . . The blue and white striped pair, if you really must know you pervert, and I'm sitting on the kitchen counter by the phone with my hair tied up with the bandana.”

 

“You and that bandana, you always wear it when you work, even when it's late at night.”

 

“Yes well, I'll be up all night now if we keep talking.”

 

“. . . Want me to go?”

 

“No, never,” she said wistfully, and it made him smile, at least until she asked the inevitable, “What are you wearing.”

 

“Nothing but my black boxers.”

 

“You and black . . . but I do like that pair.”

 

“I know, you didn't rip these like you did the light blue pair.”

 

“Sorry about that . . .”

 

“Are you kidding? The first time we ever did it, and you ripped my underwear off . . . I kind of liked it,” He said, blushing as he squirmed in the chair at the memory. Maybe that was admitting too much. Winry's voice had stopped too till she finally said softly, “I wish you were here for a repeat performance.”

 

He groaned, “So do I.”

 

There was another long pause between them, “Edward?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Call me again tomorrow like this?”

 

“I will . . . I love you.”

 

“I know . . . I love you too.”

 

“I'll try to see you as soon as I can.”

 

“I know you will, give my regards to Al.”

 

“I will.”

 

“Oh, and Ed?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Tomorrow, wear the red pair for me?”

 

He blushed all the way to crimson, more so from the tone of her voice than from her request, “I'll try . . . but you have to wear black, the lacy ones.”

 

She giggled, “Alright, you black-loving freak, I will. Good night, Edward.”

 

“Did I mention I love you?”

 

“Hundreds of times over, I love you too, now go to bed.”

 

“Good night, Winry.”

 

“Sweet dreams.”

 

Before he could repeat the sentiments, she hung up and he sighed. Slowly, he put the phone back as well, looking back up at another unfamiliar ceiling. This time, he didn't mind it as much, grinning as the sound of her voice bounced off the walls of his mind. He couldn't wait to see her again and hear that voice in person, couldn't wait to touch her. Sleep tonight wouldn't be easy in coming, but as Edward practically sprang out of the chair and padded bare-foot back down the hallway with a slight clunk in his step, it didn't matter so much anymore. As he reached his door, he paused and turned back towards the one across from it, where he knew the Colonel was sleeping with the Lieutenant. Maybe it was just his curiosity or the fact that Roy had goaded him earlier about `that' talk that made him nosy. He felt more mature than either of them when it came to love, a fact he had to prove at least to himself that he was growing up. Slowly he opened the door to the bedroom, and just looked.

 

All he could really see was Riza's naked back and her head buried against Mustang's neck and chest, his arms lazily draped over her. The twisted white sheets and dark blanket thankfully covered the rest. They looked peaceful, and content if the smile on Roy's face was any indication. Slowly, Ed closed the door as he was satisfied, and shuffled back into his room. Maybe it wasn't a matter of maturity when it came to love, he realized, but a matter of power. If he and the Colonel were any indications, it could turn the greatest men into fools or give the unworthy a purpose in life. He thought back to the letter he'd given Pinako, wondering back to those words he meant only for Winry and the realization that spawned them. His priority may have been to his brother, but his heart was hers and always would be. Love really did give the unworthy a purpose in life, even if it made him question his even more.

 

**********

 

To Be Continued in Of Ballet and Bullets, Part 4, Must Love Dogs.