December 11th, 1955
It was the night before the last day of final exams for the semester and Ethan was having mixed feelings about it being over. He was happy to have survived his first college semester with what he was sure were going to be good grades, he liked his room and his house mates, and he was still rather amused with Will's thorough infatuation with Renxiang and how willingly she returned his affections. He was happy for them both and looked forward to having Ren join the family for the holidays and seeing if there was anything that could be done for his Dad.
What had Ethan torn was the fact that he had surprised himself by getting used to being away from home. It would be a little strange to be back in Central, but good he was sure. He just wasn't sure what to do about Lia. He still wasn't entirely certain what to make of the things she had said in Resembool. Nothing had happened since getting back to school to make him think it anything more than their usual friendly conversation. Of course, he had been totally absorbed in school work again since getting back, and had done his best not to think about what else she could possibly have meant.
He must be crazy, he thought, as he pulled on his green jacket and stuck the small wrapped box that had been staring him in the face all week from his desk into his pocket. While the solstice holiday no longer had its original meaning, the winter season was still a time of gift giving and celebration. Ethan had come across something in a shop that had reminded him of Lia. On a whim he had bought it, then spent weeks debating whether or not he would be an idiot to give it to her. It wasn't as if they had never exchanged gifts. He had sent her birthday presents before, and she him, but this was a little different.
It was after dinner and he was sure Lia would be in her room over in Sylvan House. She had an exam first thing in the morning, even earlier than his last exam, and it was one of those rare evenings when she had been the one to tell him she wasn't available because she had to study. It was an essay exam and those always worried her.
Ethan hoped she wouldn't mind a brief intrusion, but with his train leaving tomorrow afternoon he wasn't sure he would get a chance to see her again before the holiday was over. Of course, sometimes the trick was getting inside! While the boys houses were usually more than happy to let girls in – the guys anyway, not their 'house pops' – the women's dormitories were a little pickier. Fortunately for Ethan, he had an immaculate reputation on campus, was relatively recognizable, and everyone in Sylvan seemed to know that he and Lia were friends. He ignored the giggles and whispers.
Also fortunately for him, Stacia was downstairs and happy to escort him up to Lia's room while it was still visiting hours. "Don't break her concentration too badly," she chuckled as she left him alone.
Ethan willed himself not to blush as he knocked on the door, which opened a few seconds later.
"Ethan!" Lia beamed up at him. "I thought you were studying for your Xingese History final."
"I was," Ethan shrugged, smiling. "I just didn't want to miss saying bye tomorrow. It's going to be pretty busy."
"How thoughtful," Lia chuckled. "Come on in, I was just taking a break anyway." She stepped aside and closed the door behind him when he entered. "Are you packed?"
"Yes, fortunately," Ethan nodded. "I know I won't remember everything if I wait until the last minute."
"Same here," Lia replied. "Would you like a cup of tea?" She turned around as she refilled one cup from the tea cozy that she always had on a hot plate. There was a second cup on her shelf.
"Sure," Ethan agreed, feeling a little edgy. He wasn't entirely sure how to bring up the present.
"I'm glad you came by," Lia was still smiling as she poured the second cup and turned around to give it to him. "I have something for you."
"For me?" Ethan asked, caught off guard. He hadn't been expecting that!
"Other than the tea," Lia teased as she turned around and picked up a wrapped package that he hadn't really noticed behind her stack of books. "Don't look at me like that. Just open it."
Like what? Ethan set the tea down and unwrapped the package. Inside was a scarf, tightly knitted in green that matched his coat. Worked into the pattern at both ends was a perfect copy – in black – of the crest. There was a pair of knit gloves in black. Ethan turned them over, and was startled to see familiar transmutation circles carefully embroidered on the palms in green. He looked up at Lia in surprise. "These are wonderful. Where did you find them?"
"I made them," Lia beamed, blushing slightly and clearly pleased by his reaction. "You've had two colds already this semester, and then I noticed I never see you wearing gloves or a scarf. As for the circles, well I snuck a look at the ones on the gloves you have for alchemy and sketched it out. I had Will and Ren both look them over to make sure I had them right…" she added.
Will and Ren knew about these? Ethan felt his ears turn pink, but he smiled. "Thanks, Lia. They're great. Umm…well I have something for you too," he admitted then. "But it's not something I made." Now he felt silly about worrying about a gift and almost felt like it might be inadequate. The knitting and embroidery on these looked professional and he couldn't imagine how long she had spent working on them!
"It doesn't have to be," Lia smiled as Ethan fumbled to get the box out of his pocket. It was smaller than the one she had given him. She looked at it curiously before she carefully removed the wrapping and opened the box. She gave him a startled glance as she opened the lid and looked inside.
For a moment, Ethan about panicked. Then Lia's smile returned as she picked up the delicate gold chain and looked at the pendant. Ethan desperately hoped she liked it. Jewelry wasn't exactly his usual vein of present giving! But he had been looking at stones – hey he was an alchemist, he liked anything that might be useful for transmutation – and had been looking in the window of a shop downtown and had spotted it – a delicately twisted gold chain with a small pendant in the shape of a lacy-winged butterfly. Set in the center though, was a perfect star sapphire. For some reason it had simply struck him that Lia would love it.
Apparently his intuition had proven entirely correct. Lia stared at it for several more seconds, and then with a small squeal she popped up on her toes and planted a kiss full on his lips!
Ethan thought his eyes might fall right out of his skull! It was a brief kiss, but it took him several seconds to register anything at all past the feel of her lips on his. By the time he could focus again, she was standing normally, eyes dancing as she watched him. "It's beautiful, Ethan. Thank you."
"Y-you're welcome," he shook himself. "I-you… you've never done… that before." Damn, he sounded like an idiot!
"Help me put it on," Lia asked by way of response, holding up the pendant.
"Oh, sure," Ethan nodded, gingerly taking it. Lia turned around, sweeping her long golden hair out of the way. Ethan had never done this before, but it shouldn't be that difficult. Carefully he slipped it around her neck and did the clasp in the back. Lia turned around again, looking down at it with a soft smile. "I'm glad you… like it."
"I love it," Lia met his gaze, and he found his eyes locked in the blue depths the same shade as the sapphire she now wore. She stepped closer again, her voice soft. "It's one of the nicest gifts I've ever received."
"What was the nicest?" Ethan asked without thinking. He was rooted to the spot.
Lia stopped mere inches away. "You let me kiss you."
Ethan felt oddly warm and light-headed for a moment. She was right there, so close, and the strangely pleasant sensation of the kiss in question lingered. He couldn't help but wonder if the next would be as sweet. She tasted of sweet peppermint tea and, well, her. "Yeah," he replied softly, unimaginative a reply as it was. If he had ever doubted how she felt, those doubts had just met a violent end!
It was entirely impulse that gave Ethan the daring to close the distance between them and kiss Lia again. A line had been crossed, and dissolved as if drawn in wet ocean sand. It wasn't a forceful kiss, at least not at first; but softly questing, tasting, taking in the overwhelming experience. He was eighteen, and until tonight he had never kissed a girl.
Lia responded enthusiastically, but met him with the same gentle response, her arms going slowly around his neck as he found his around her waist, almost more to hold him up than for any other reason! It was a sweet, warm, intoxicating moment that stretched out indefinitely.
Ethan wasn't sure entirely what happened. The kiss deepened, and as tired as he was, the heady feeling that rose within him made him daring. He leaned further into the kiss and wasn't sure when they moved, but his hands bumped into what he realized was the wall beside Lia's bed. The soft thick comforter brushed his leg invitingly. It might be more comfortable on the bed. It had been a long day and he knew they were both tired. It would be so easy to….
What the hell am I doing?! Ethan jumped backwards with a start, and then nearly stumbled backwards as he caught one foot on her chair. Lia's eyes were wide with confusion. "I… I'm sorry," Ethan's tongue fumbled with words. "I didn't mean to- I need to go. Um, thanks for…" he grabbed up the package with her gift to him as he back-pedaled for the door, trying very hard not to think about what he had just been thinking about! "See ya."
As soon as the door closed behind him Ethan booked it for the stairs, hurrying out of the building and walking so fast he was almost running; not slowing until he was more than half way back to Arc House. What the heck was wrong with him? Was he really so weak-willed, so easily swayed that a kiss could drag him to the brink of…
His face flushed hot against the cold air as even the thought made him blush! Damn it! He still felt that strange feeling inside, that warmth that seemed to fill him from head to toes. It was a new sensation, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what it was; and he had that much medical training. How embarrassing; nearly losing complete control and who knew what Lia thought!
Ethan wasn't aware of the rest of the distance back to the dormitory. The next time he registered where he was he was half way down his own hall to his room, which he hit at a full rush, barely unlocking it before he slammed it closed behind him, dropping the box on his bed and collapsing face first into his pillow.
Tonight might well be the best and worst night of his life. After this, how could he ever again claim that all he felt for Lia was friendship? Obviously that wasn't the case. But was what he felt now a deeper emotion or a baser one? He had no comparison, and he was terrified to find out. The attraction was there, strong and heady and calling to him. Lia liked him too… a lot apparently.
So where did this leave them? And why did these things have to be complicated and come without instructions?
He lost track of time, but a glance at the clock told him it was about a half an hour later when there was a firm knock on his door. "Hey, E!" It was Colt, sounding uncharacteristically concerned. "You alive in there, buddy?"
Ethan was tempted to ignore his friend, but he hadn't locked the door behind him. "Breathing," he retorted without moving, his reply muffled.
"Well that's an improvement on the situation," Colt opened the door and came in, shutting it behind him. "Stacia called the floor."
That couldn't be good. "What for?"
"Looking for you, idiot," Colt didn't sound happy. Ethan peered out from the pillow enough to see him frowning. "Apparently she found Lia crying in her room and all she got out of her was something about you, and Lia was really worried about you."
So much for private embarrassment. Ethan sat up, leaned back against the wall and wished he were anywhere else at the moment, or better yet anyone else. Then he'd have some clue how to handle the situation. "Well I'm here and I'm alive."
Colt snorted. "What the hell happened, E? I can't believe you managed to make that girl cry."
It wasn't quite accusing – much more disbelieving – but Ethan felt guilt settle on him as his friend waited for an explanation. "I kissed her," the words came out in little more than a harsh whisper.
"That made her cry?" Colt replied dubiously. "No offense man, but I doubt you're that bad. If so, your future girlfriends have my sympathies."
"It's not funny!" Ethan snapped at him. It was probably the first time he'd actually lost his temper in front of Colt.
The other guy looked pretty startled. "Woah, easy! So give me the details if it's big enough to get you jumpy."
Well he might as well suffer the total humiliation. At least Colt and Lance would get a good laugh at his expense. "I had a present for her," he explained, going up to the point where she'd actually opened it. "She kissed me. Then she told me that was the best present she'd ever gotten, and well it happened again. And then the next thing I knew I've got her up against the wall and her bed's right there and I…. well I panicked. I broke it off and ran out."
Colt, for once, didn't look even remotely amused. "Well, shit. No wonder Lia's crying. She's been chasing after you for months, and you finally give her what she wants and then you ditch?"
"Don't make it sound like I was leading her on," Ethan groused. "How the hell was I supposed to know?"
"Says the man with the case of raging denial," Colt shook his head. "I don't know what your hang-up is with girls, E, but you'd better get over it. Of course you wanted her. It's only natural. She's hot, she's totally into you, and you've been holding yourself back for years."
Ethan resisted the irrational urge to punch Colt in the face. What was wrong with him? "I'm not an animal, and Lia's not some Havah light-skirt."
Apparently his mouth needed a good smack too, because Colt's expression darkened. "Watch it, Elric. You're treading on awfully thin ice." Of course, neither Colt nor Lance had that particular hang-up about their girlfriends, but Ethan hadn't meant to insult them, or their girls – who were Lia's two best friends.
Well shit. "Look, just leave me alone," Ethan suggested. "I'll figure this out later when I've got my head on straight."
"You mean never?" Colt rolled his eyes, but he stopped glowering. "Come on. Let's go grab a drink. You look like you could use one."
Ethan's mouth was halfway open before he realized that he'd been about to give an affirmative response instead of his now-reflexive you know I don't drink. He'd never felt the need to explain why, though he knew his friends didn't get it. Funny, given the rather ugly public press his Dad had gotten during his parents' separation. Apparently that kind of stuff really didn't stick with people, or they weren't paying much attention. Catching himself just made Ethan madder at himself. He must be completely out of his mind!
It was several seconds before he realized his was on his feet, and Colt was giving him another odd look. "Ethan… are you sure you're going to be okay? You seem pretty wigged out, man."
"I'm going out," Ethan hadn't bothered to take his coat off, so he just headed for the door. He couldn't stay here either. It felt like the room was closing in on him.
"Ethan!" Colt followed him into the hallway, calling him by his full first name for the first time since they had known each other. "Look, I'm sorry I offered. Don't go out there tonight, the weather's lousy and it's already dark."
"You wanna be my babysitter now?" Ethan asked without turning around. He felt trapped…he needed an escape. He headed down the stairs, taking them two at a time, quickly putting distance between him and his friend.
By the time he hit the house doors again, he was alone. He didn't even really know where his feet were taking him, he just wanted to go somewhere where he wouldn't be bothered, where he could think, and where he might be able to see something other than Lia's startled expression as he fled.
His hands were numb when he realized he was halfway to the Pub, the gloves and scarf lying discarded on his bed. Well, that was good enough. He wanted a drink, but he wouldn't have one the way Colt meant. The fact that he'd almost agreed just told him how rattled he was and how badly he'd screwed up tonight.
Two hours and three cups of hot chocolate later – heavy on the whipped cream – Ethan had managed to get his pulse back to normal and his mind had stopped racing. Now he just felt like a pathetic heel. If he hadn't tried kissing her back he wouldn't have lost control, he wouldn't have panicked, and Lia would still be happy instead of miserable. It was all his fault. He was just a flawed, hormone-driven, cad like almost every other guy on campus! And to top it all off he'd almost broken his strongest personal rule.
I really must be the king of idiots.
December 12th, 1955
It had been a fairly nice day when Ed decided to walk to Headquarters that morning. Cold, certainly, but wrapped up in his warm brown over-coat and his favorite hat Ed had felt pretty good. At least he could still manage a brisk walk! Winter made him feel even edgier than usual, and it gave him an outlet for his energy.
Unfortunately, the weather hadn't remained nice. A winter storm-front had moved in about mid-day, and by the time Ed headed home in the afternoon there was rain mixed with icy sleet falling from the sky.
Ed hadn't waited for Alphonse, though he probably could have. Al was in meetings – one of the pleasures of having taken over Ed's position as head of the program – and Ed figured it wouldn't be that bad. It had lightened up a little as he headed out, only to get heavier within a few minutes. Ed was glad for the coat and felt brimmed hat! Miserable as the weather was, he was dry except for his feet.
He was half way home when Ed noticed something odd out of the corner of his eye; movement. Who the heck else was out in this weather? But it wasn't tall enough to be human. Ed paused and really looked. A moment later he saw a dog limping through the rain, and caught the sound he had heard a moment before – whimpering. Through the driving weather the dog looked familiar though; not a specific animal perhaps, but it looked like the sheepdogs that Ed remembered being so common in Resembool – black and white with medium length thick fur, pointed ears that flopped, and a bushy tail, though a little bigger than the sheep dogs he had seen closer to Central, and with slightly broader builds and faces.
Ed looked both ways and then crossed the street to catch up with the dog, curiosity and a strange nagging driving him to get a closer look. As he got closer he became convinced the dog was a stray. Its coat was matted, and it looked thin even under all the fur – the water plastering it to its body made that plain. He thought it was female.
His suspicions were confirmed when the dog turned down an alley and Ed followed. There, nestled in a large broken wooden crate was a litter of puppies; a small squirming mass of pups in a variety of colors, but all distinctly the same type of dog. In that instant he knew he couldn't just keep walking. "Hey girl," he called out gently, hoping the dog was friendly.
She paused, turning her head with a low warning growl.
Ed stopped walking and crouched down with one hand extended. "It's all right," he said soothingly. "I don't want to hurt you or your babies." Belatedly, Ed remembered a snack bar stuffed in his pocket that he hadn't eaten that morning. It was hardly appropriate dog food, but a hungry stray –especially a nursing mother- would eat anything he was sure! The pups didn't look anywhere near old enough to be weaned. "Are you hungry?" He used one hand to pull out the bar and unwrapped it.
Immediately the mother dog's ears perked up and the growling stopped. She sniffed. Then, as Ed sat perfectly still, his auto-mail hand outstretched with the bar sitting on his palm, she slowly crept back down the alley way. Finally she sniffed his hand, then snatched the bar out, retreating a ways before wolfing it down hungrily. Yeah, the poor thing was definitely starving.
She approached much faster the second time, though Ed had nothing left to offer. Instead, he held out his real hand, and offered a tentative scratch behind the ears. As soon as he did, he knew the dog had once had a family, because she leaned into him and nuzzled him. Apparently he now had her trust. "All right, mama," he smiled. "Will you let me near your babies?" He stood slowly and approached the litter. The mother dog stuck close by him, but as long as he was moving slowly and deliberately, she made no signs of protest.
Up close, Ed estimated the pups couldn't be more than four weeks old, if that; and he counted nine puppies! He was met with a quandary then. The busted crate – far too big for him to carry anyway – was the only box in the alley. There was nothing to carry nine puppies with. Except… without hesitation, Ed pulled off his coat and folded it and, getting under the crate edge as much as possible to keep it dry, he gently shifted the litter of squirming pups – whose bodies he thought were alarmingly cold despite their apparent activity – onto the cloth. The mother looked anxious as Ed lightly tied the ends together – leaving openings for air – and then lifted the whole bundle up into his arms.
Ed was quickly soaked, and immediately much colder, but the pups seemed all right. Ed looked down at the dog. "Ready to go home?" he asked.
The dog seemed to understand the word home, because she followed right at Ed's heels as he headed back out of the alley and headed for home as quickly as he could manage with the mother dog limping beside him. He hadn't had a chance to look at her leg, but there wasn't any fresh blood so whatever had made her lame was not an immediate concern.
Ed was shivering well before the house came into view, and had never been more grateful to see the warm light spilling from the windows. When he dragged in the door – nearly half an hour late – Winry was standing in the hallway staring at him with a perplexed and slightly disbelieving expression. "What's this?"
"A dog," Ed replied facetiously. "Actually, several dogs." The mother dog followed him as he set the soaked coat down on the area rug in the living room in front of the fireplace – which currently had a nice fire going – and unfolded it, revealing the litter.
Winry's stunned face didn't change. "Ed? What were you thinking?"
"Look at them, Winry," Ed held up a puppy by way of demonstration. "They're barely four weeks old. Not even close to being weaned and the poor girl's practically starving. I couldn't leave them out there."
Winry took the puppy he held out – a white-and-golden brown one – and sighed. "No, of course not," Winry agreed. "But what are we going to do with eleven dogs?"
"I figured once they're weaned, we find them homes," Ed smiled and shrugged. "I certainly didn't say anything about keeping them!"
"Good. But you're not allowed to tease Alphonse about stray cats ever again," Winry smirked. "I'll set up a bed for them in the laundry room. Bounce can sleep upstairs for the time being until we get them checked out by a veterinarian and they have a chance to get used to each other."
Ed hadn't even thought about poor Bounce. "Where is she?" he asked, realizing he hadn't seen her.
"I just let her out back because she was begging," Winry sighed. "She probably wants back in though in this weather."
"You get the laundry room," Ed suggested, standing. "I'll handle Bounce." He didn't think that the little dog would do anything nasty, she was pretty social, but he didn't want to take the risk. She was scrambling at the back door, so Ed let her into the kitchen. Though he gated it off before letting her in, with one of the old gates they still had around from when the kids were little, or now when inquisitive grandchildren needed to be kept out of particular areas! Trisha was at that age now. Bounce stood on her hind legs, peering eagerly over the barrier and barking, obviously aware of the new arrivals.
Winry had folded up a couple of thick old blankets in an empty corner of the laundry floor, next to the dryer where it was always warm. Mama – Ed really needed another name for her, but it worked for now – was hungrily chomping away at a bowl of dog food Winry had put down, with a full bowl of fresh water next to it, and had nestled the puppies on the blankets. "Poor thing," she stroked the dog's head gently. "How long do you think she's been out there?"
"Not sure," Ed admitted, leaning against the doorjamb and watching. "But it sure looks like a while, and I don't think that limp is a new injury."
Winry nodded. "I took a look at her legs. There's some old scratches on the back right, but nothing fresh. It looks like maybe she pulled a muscle or sprained something and it healed wrong."
"Well she'll have plenty of time to heal up nooo-aaaachoo!" Ed startled himself as a sneeze exploded out of him hard enough it rocked him slightly!
Winry's full attention turned to him then, and she looked as if she was irritated with herself as well as him. "You're crazy, Ed," she said as she stood up. "Running around in this weather with no coat! You'll catch cold for sure that way. Go get changed into something dry immediately!"
Ed couldn't help but smile a little. He didn't argue though. "Yes, ma'am." The warmth of the house already made him feel better, but he was dripping wet from his head to his feet. He'd taken his hat off and a circle at the top of his head was the only part of him that wasn't drenched!
By the time he got changed into warm, dry clothing and wrung-out his hair, Ed was glad he had. He was starting to feel leaden tired in his limbs and a little shaky. After so little exertion, it irritated him, but he suspected that Winry was right. He got sick more easily than he used to and he was probably going to pay for this with a few days of misery. It was worth it though. When he came downstairs the mother was curled up with her pups, who were feeding contentedly. Well, most of them were.
Ed noticed that the ninth pup – there were only eight teats – was waiting; a little runt who couldn't seem to push his brothers and sisters aside to get the food he so desperately wanted and needed. He was mostly black, but his front right leg was completely white up to the shoulder, and his back left was white to the hock. It was an irony that made Ed chuckle. "Well don't we make a pair," he said, scooping the pup up in his hand. The mother didn't complain. She hadn't abandoned him, so while he was tiny, Ed was pretty sure there was nothing wrong with the pup. "You mind if I borrow him?" he looked at the mother, whose gaze seemed to say mind, not at all. As if the eight hungry pups sucking on her weren't enough for her to take care of!
Ed cradled the little one, who started gnawing on his finger with his toothless little mouth, and went into the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Winry asked as she took the whistling tea kettle off the stove.
"Playing surrogate mother," Ed smirked. "At least for the moment. Do we have any milk?"
"Some," Winry said. It wasn't the best thing for a pup, but they didn't really have much else that would be useful. Ed was pretty sure the pup was getting some nourishment from his mother, there just wasn't enough left when the others got through with her. Though perhaps with better nutrition her supply would improve as well. "You know he's going to be hungry every two or three hours."
"Yeah, I know," Ed shrugged. What country-raised boy didn't know how to take care of baby animals? Not that he'd ever have admitted it to the boys at HQ, but Ed could probably take care of any baby animal they could find if he had to. At least any that they had in Resembool. He got milk from the refrigerator and warmed it slowly until it was about the right temperature. Then he sat down and simply dipped his finger in it, letting the puppy mouth it off him.
The little fellow caught on quick. Eventually he filled up, and Ed watched as he simply fell asleep in his hands. Then Ed cuddled him close, feeling a surprising reluctance to return him to his mother. He did though. By then the other pups had eaten their fill and he set the little one down by a nipple so that he'd have first dibs when he woke up later.
"You ready to get mothered yourself?" Winry chuckled from the door of the laundry. "There's hot tea out here for you and I made stew for dinner."
"Yeah, I'm coming." Ed gave the pup, and the mother, one last pat and then stood up and followed Winry back into the living room.
"I called the Veterinarian," Winry commented as they both sat down. "He said he'd come over tomorrow and have a look at them all."
"Good," Ed dug in hungrily, appreciating the heat of the food as much as how filling it was. He considered how fortunate it was that he had happened upon that poor dog this evening. No mother should have to raise her young unsupported.
"Hey, Ethan!" Will tried to get his cousin's attention for the fifth time since they had all boarded the train for Central earlier that afternoon. He was definitely starting to get worried.
Ethan looked away from the window and blinked, still looking distant and a little dazed. "What?"
"It's dinner time," Will pointed out, holding out the hot dog he had in one hand as a demonstration. He had brought one for Ethan and one for himself. Ren had preferred the salad.
Ethan gave it an uninterested glance and shrugged. "No thanks." He turned back to the window.
Will gave Ren a helpless look and she sighed and shook her head. Give him time her expression said, and as much as it irritated Will he was inclined to agree. He'd heard the story – from multiple sources – by the time he caught up with Ethan after his exam. He wasn't sure he had ever seen his cousin look more depressed or self-depreciating – or more like Uncle Ed for that matter. Ethan had apparently stayed up till the Pub closed, then hid out in the campus library – open all hours during exams – until his test, which he seemed convinced he had completely bombed.
Once they had boarded the train, Ethan had huddled up in his corner and not spoken a word.
With a shrug, Will downed his hot dog. When his cousin wanted to talk, he would. He eyed Ethan's food for a moment, and almost took a bite before a small, well-manicured finger poked him in the stomach. He glanced over at Ren, who was giving him a side-long look that was half amusement, half daring him to actually eat it in front of her. Will sighed and put it down with a smile. "Only cause it's Ethan's."
"It has nothing to do with the fact that I beat you in our little sparring match the other day," Ren agreed with a small chuckle.
"Of course not," Will chuckled with light sarcasm. It had been a humbling experience. There had been a time when the only people that Will sparred with who regularly beat him were his Dad and Uncle Al, and Sara after she became a trained State Alchemist. He and Ethan had usually been an even match. Not so since he started college. It actually irritated Will how lazy he'd gotten on some things in order to keep up with his studies, but he had enough things to stress over, and the easiest things to not worry about were the ones that slid first.
Though Ren's appearance in his life had definitely thrown a twist into his priorities! Not that Will was complaining. His beautiful girl made his last year at the University much easier to bear, despite the challenging course load. His natural inclination toward a neat appearance had returned after a single joke at his expense that he looked like a sheepdog, and while Ren was kind and never scolded the way his mother did, a single smiling glance during a meal was enough to make him keep a more watchful eye on what he put on his plate most days.
Perhaps the biggest motivator had been Ren's suggestion that he should take a trip to Xing for the summer after he graduated, meet her family, and there were resources in Xing that might be useful in his own alchemical research. While Will certainly didn't mind that Ren was the sister of the Emperor of Xing, the idea of meeting her family – especially after all the stories Ethan and Will's father had told about the trip and the Xian family – meant he certainly didn't want to make a bad impression!
Will had run track in high school, but he had no illusions about how well he'd do at the moment, even though he'd actually lost a couple of pounds the last few weeks. Still, he'd gotten his hair trimmed up neater than he had since he left for college, and trimmed his goatee up as well; though he was toying with the idea of just shaving it off again. Ren had seen a bunch of his high school pictures and had commented on how dashing he looked and how much she liked his face.
Some of his friends joked about him being completely whipped already, but Will didn't care. His feelings for Ren were far different from any other woman he had ever known and being in love with her, and knowing she loved him back, was worth anything! The only time he could honestly say he'd been whipped by Ren was when they sparred and he didn't really mind that either.
Will sat Ethan's hot dog down on the seat next to his cousin who didn't look in his direction. Then he leaned back, his arm going around Ren. Colt had said Ethan had been acting strange; Lia had been worried about him and very confused. Will had always figured that whenever Ethan finally got around to kissing the girl, things would fall into place. He'd watched his cousin pine for Lia for years. So why had it gone so wrong? He wished Ethan would talk.
Ethan had been the one to introduce Will to Ren. Now Will just hoped he could do something of equal worth to help him in return.