hey, hey, hey! look who it is! :D

so I'm taking time to update some of my multi-chap ficcys; since this is the most fun one I write, expect a slew to come along! I'd been really uninspired as of late, but I forced this one out. luckily, about halfway through, I picked up some inspiration and had a lot of fun, so I hope this turned out ok... enjoy!

SHIPPING: ATEM X TEA (REVOLUTIONSHIPPING)

TITLE: MEET AND GREET

THEME/MUSIC: ARRANGED/ LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT- KYLIE MINOGUE

TAGLINE: HE STILL WASN'T SO SURE HOW HE'D GOTTEN INTO THIS MESS.

WORDS: 485

He still wasn't so sure how he'd gotten into this mess. Briefly, his eyes threatened to stray upward, but he forcefully repressed the urge. He would think that out of all the schooling he was being put through, there would've been time to instruct him in something resembling this. No amount of astronomy, mathematics, politics, logic, battle strategies, or alchemy would be enough to instruct him in the proper… etiquette for this. Again his gaze wavered, and he scowled, focusing his attention instead on his sandals on the terrazzo.

He most definitely hadn't been expecting this, but then again, he should've suspected something when the normally stoic Mahad could barely conceal his mirth during the past week. "What?" he had insisted one lesson, nudging at Mahad's shoulder. The chuckles had subsided immediately.

"Nothing," Mahad said, clearing his throat. "Now. Alchemy. Define the principle of 'equal exchange.'"

"Mahad," he cajoled, setting down his scroll. "Why won't you tell me?"

There was a brief pause, and then Mahad had burst into unbridled laughter. His scowl deepened at the memory. If he had had even a day's worth of preparation, he could've tracked down Mana and asked for advice (although he wasn't so sure if she would be the best source of guidance in this matter…). The sudden sound of silk rustling caught his attention, and he looked up before he could stop himself.

"Um, is this whole thing supposed to be a quiet affair? I was under the impression we would be talking…"

As badly as he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze away from the speaker. "I… er, I don't… um-"

It was a girl. A real girl. Not one with a dirt-streaked face and tangled hair, but with pale skinned arms extending from an elegant white dress and a soft voice. This was the last thing he had seen coming when he'd been shoved rather ungracefully into the room by Mahad: this girl sitting quietly, head bowed demurely, waiting for him.

As if she could read his thoughts, he saw her chin lift slightly. The gauzy veil draped over her head tilted so that one brilliantly blue eye peered hesitantly at him. Just as quickly, it widened and dropped to look at the floor. Her hands fisted into her skirts. Unsure what to make of this reaction, he shifted uneasily.

"I'm Atem," he said finally, in what he hoped was an assertive tone. "I'm not really sure how this thing is supposed to go… I mean, I didn't even know it was arranged… I thought I'd be-"

"Anzu," she murmured shyly. "I'm Anzu." As she lifted her head to meet his gaze again, her veil slipped back to settle over her shoulders, exposing dark hair and a pretty, flushed face.

He had lived in the desert all his life, but this was the first time he felt such a heat rush to his cheeks.

I actually really don't like this couple at all... could you tell? I hope not, because I want to be as unbiased as possible in writing these (except the ones concerning Rebecca, haha). so yeah, I decided to use Téa's Japanese name here to distinguish the time periods. and did anyone pick up on the FMA reference? XD

like, don't like? leave me a review and tell me!