A/N: this drabble takes place after the events of "The Conqueror of Shamballa" timeline.
#060- Drink
The pub is dimly lit and smells like sweat and cigarette smoke, but at the moment he could care less.
A foreign shoulder jostles his roughly, but he ignores it, head throbbing too much for him to toss his customary retort with a thick tongue. Instead, he wordlessly pushes his empty glass toward the bartender, the ice clinking quietly amidst the dull buzz of conversation in the background.
His head hurts like hell and he knows his eyes are bloodshot, but he gropes for the refilled glass again anyway. Al had left an hour earlier, taking his soothing words and gentle voice with him to leave the unresponsive form alone to mull over blurry thoughts.
He had wanted to leave this world so badly. To feel the familiar cool breeze from familiar open fields. To be able to clap his hands and spark energy to life from nothing. To see everyone again, even that blasted Mustang, but especially Al and the old hag Pinako and then there was…
Her breath was warm on his cheek, soft lips just brushing over his ear. He stiffened from the unexpected contact but her whispered words flushed a faded pink on his face. Mumbling something back, he breathed in that comforting scent of oil and lavender; desperately wishing she wouldn't let him go, not this time…
Now he was here. Again. And that selfish, blazing desire of his still smolders in his chest.
Someone else pushes against him, yanking him out of his reverie and slopping his drink over his front. Cursing in disgust, he turns to snap at the offender, but stops short, choking on his words.
"Sorry!" the girl calls over her shoulder, the long, bright hair whipping out of sight before his hazy vision can adjust and his mouth can function. He inhales sharply and the smell of oil and lavender meets his muddled senses before vanishing abruptly.
He stares after her for a while longer, temples pounding in tandem to her long-gone footsteps. Then slowly he turns back and gulps another burning mouthful of amber liquid, willing himself not to run after her.
He had just had too many drinks, that was all.