Author's note: This was previously posted in An Apple a Day. I do not own FMA or its characters. This is AU.

Taking Notes

It started out innocently enough. There was one of those little post-it tabs stuck to her assignment when the grad student handed it back. The neat scrawl on it read: Interesting reference. Have you read Molly Ivins' article on Sam Austin? Or did you find it in a biography?

She'd looked up from the comment to see the grad student shoot her a smile. His name was Roy Mustang if she remembered correctly. She'd check the syllabus when she got back to her apartment. She actually had read that article. A quick check of the syllabus confirmed that Roy Mustang was the graduate assistant for the Political Satire and Commentary class. She turned in her next assignment with a sticky note on the corner reading: Yes. I've read all three of her books of articles as well as her two on Bush. I referenced her once again in this assignment.

It was returned to her with another post-it tab on top. There was a little smiley face doodle and She certainly makes political journalism readable, doesn't she?

She didn't really think much of the exchange at that point. He'd simply been curious about where she'd learned a piece of information, and they had similar tastes in journalists. Then she'd turned in her midterm. The first section of the class had covered political commentary, and then they were moving on to political satire.

When she got her midterm back, the essay had been graded by the professor and then covered with post-it tabs by Mustang. At least, that was what she had assumed. The grade written on the paper and the notes on the tabs were in different handwriting. She had mentioned the Capitol Steps in the introduction of her essay. Mustang had gone through her essay, and every time she'd mentioned an event that had a song parody he'd stuck a tab next to it with the opening lyrics. On the last page was a sticky note with the message: I started playing find the Cap Steps song with your essay. I hope you don't mind; it was the only way I was going to stay sane while reading over the rest of the midterms.

Her next assignment was turned with a post-it note reading: I don't mind as long as you're not listening in on my phone calls. Have you downloaded this week's clip from their website?

The two of them spent the rest of the term trading notes with various references to political comedy, mostly the Capitol Steps but there was some other material thrown in there. It was strange. Riza could count on one hand the number of times she'd actually spoken to Roy Mustang, but she felt like she knew him. The logical part of her pointed out that all she knew was they shared similar interests and opinions on politics, but she couldn't help feeling a connection. She was going to miss the notes when the class ended.

Then when the last assignment before the final essay was handed back, there was one last note. It was short and to the point: April 16th, 3 o'clock at the Seattle's Best by the bookstore. Meet me?

The sixteenth was the first day of spring break, and she was there.

"Hi, Riza. Is it okay if I call you that? I mean, I know your name because of the assignments, but we've never really been introduced, and--"

"Roy," she cut him off. He gave her a lopsided smile, and she held out her hand. "How about you buy me a Chai Latte and get to know me from there?"

Theme: Passing Notes