"Are we really going to be left out?" – the guys whispered between themselves, all of them sitting back at the table, throwing angry glances at the girls as they casually danced in front of each other on the dance floor.
No one would have imagined that Hawkeye could be a pro-dancer, and yet her moves were refined and precise to the last finger. Even Ed could hold her own as she causally swayed her hips back and forth, eyes closed, getting lost in the music. She might not know it consciously but she had a pretty good sense of following the rhythm of the music.
As the band struck the final notes to the third song they had been dancing to, both Ed and Riza sauntered back to the table and plopped down on their respective seats a little out of breath. Just then the owner of the bar went up to the mic and addressed the guests.
"Dear Ladies and Gentlemen…" – he paused for everyone to turn their attention to the stage. – "As it is customary in our little bar on Friday nights, I am commencing open mic night as of now!"
A few of the patrons cheered and whistled at the news, obviously familiar with the tradition.
As the night went on several pretty good and also some very poor performances were heard, and the people of the bar were not shy to let their judgement known to the poor lad/gal who took it upon themselves to entertain the crowd with either applause and appreciative whistles or loud boo-s and occasionally with the throwing of tomatoes. After a few more shots Ed kept stealing glances at the stage struggling with her inner battle if she should do this or not.
"You sing?" – Roy asked after the umpteenth time he caught Ed looking at the stage with longing.
"I used to with my mom…" – she confessed with a bittersweet half-smile appearing at the corner of her lips as she recalled the memories that she was clearly fond of. – "I haven't really since… you know… well, at least not in front of people."
"Go then." – he encouraged with a little nudge of her shoulders. Ed reluctantly got up, downing another shot for courage then made her way to the band leader to ask if they knew the song that she had in mind, meanwhile the gang cheered her on with whistles.
After a few seconds of hushed consultation she got up to the mic and gulped warily as it dawned on her what she was really about to do while the stage help readjusted the mic for her. She took a big calming breath as she closed her eyes and started to flick her fingers and move her hips to the slowly building jazz tune, humming along.
My soul is a weary
My soul is a weary
My soul is a weary
I said my soul is a weary
After the first few notes she sung in the sultry tone the song required the whole room erupted in a furry of cheering and whistles. Roy was prepared for almost anything when Ed said that she used to sing but not this. Her voice was velvety and seductive just the right amount, swooning the crowd. The complete opposite of the way she usually talked. He glanced over at Havoc who was practically drooling on the table as he watched the performance, even his cigarette has fallen out of his mouth.
My soul is a weary and beaten down from all of my misery
Oh Lord who will comfort me
My soul is a weary and beaten down from all of my misery
Oh Lord who will comfort me
As she went down on the scat part of the song she ran her left hand that wasn't holding the mic stand over her side and hips bending over a little, leaning into the mic.
Got a hold on my heart that keeps me bound
When the whole wide world is free (yeah)
Oh Lord who will comfort me
Got a hold on my heart that keeps me bound
When the whole wide world is free (yeah)
Oh Lord who will comfort me
By the next scat practically everyone in the bar was standing as they watched Ed sing who was completely oblivious to the scene in front of her, still having her eyes closed, swaying instinctively to the rhythm.
My home is a wreckage
A family drowned in plight and poverty
Oh Lord who will comfort me
My home is a wreckage
A family drowned in plight and poverty
Oh Lord who will comfort me
Oh Lord who will comfort me
As she drew out the last few notes, Ed finally dared to open her eyes, totally dumbfounded by the reaction that she received, making her actually blush as she stumbled down from the stage while the room started chanting "Back, back, back!"
She shyly made her way back to their table and sat down on her seat with a straight back not looking at anyone particularly. Trying to act like nothing had happened, she took a sip of her drink.
The whole room became eerily quiet, everyone expecting Ed to sing at least one more. After a while with the expectant stares she caved in.
"Okay, all right! But remember that you asked for it!" – she warned, knowing that the next song she had in mind would bring out a whole different set of emotions in the crowd.
"Wait! You are not even surprised?" – Roy interrupted his own story suddenly, being perplexed when Ed showed absolutely no sign of emotion at the fact that she stood up in front a whole crowd to sing not only once, but twice!
"Nah… If I start singing there is no way I wouldn't sing that song." – Ed shrugged her shoulders being sure of what was coming.
"I haven't even told you yet what song you sang! You remembered something?" – the raven-haired alchemist perked up at the possibility.
"No, I don't." – Ed snorted. – "But like I said, there is no way in hell I wouldn't sing that particular song." – she remarked with that bittersweet smile again that Roy soon realized to associate with the memory of her dead mother. – "I just can't believe I went and sang it without Al."
"Khm… Actually…" – Roy cleared his throat as he went on to tell what else transpired last night.
A/N: Song in this chapter: Melody Gardot - "Who Will Comfort Me", be sure to check it out :)
