Lights! Camera! Christmas!
Author: MoonStarDutchess and Rinoaebastel
Chapter 7: Settlement
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.
Broken Angel was an eight-storey hospital that, although it wasn't the tallest building in Central, it loomed significantly over the other buildings in the neighborhood. It was at least a hundred years old but one wouldn't be able to tell from the appearance, the old brick long painted over with white paint and renovated frequently every few years. The only indication of its age was a plaque underneath a statue of the hospital's founder that told the years of its founding.
There weren't any reporters on the grounds as recent laws forbade them from medical areas. They got out of the car in the parking lot and walked into the hospital. After a short talk with the hospital clerk to find out the room number, they headed to Maes's room.
When they entered the room, the nurse turned to them, gave a smile, and then turned back to take the blood pressure strap off Maes's arm. "You have visitors," the nurse said to him. "I'll get your paperwork for your release." She faced Roy and Riza. "Congratulations on your engagement."
Their faces fell as she walked past them.
"You two all right?" Maes asked. Riza saw a frown flash on Gracia's face before her expression went neutral.
"Don't worry about us," Roy scolded. "You're in a worse state than us."
"Yeah," he said and rubbed the back of his head. "I thought he was going to kill me for my phone."
"Don't be so good-natured about it," Roy said.
"Why? I'm alive aren't I? It could be so much worse."
"There's no use talking to him about the way he's acting," Gracia said. "He could see the positives in a nuclear attack."
"A nuclear attack could kill serial killers," Maes said.
"See?" Gracia said.
Riza decided it would be best not to point out that it would kill more people than a serial killer would.
"We need to look into getting you a bodyguard," Roy said.
"Good luck, I've been trying to convince him of his need for one for years," Riza said.
Maes waved them off. "It was an isolated incident, and I wasn't being careful." A mischievous grin crossed his face. "Speaking of incident. Just why were the two of you at the same hotel? I didn't set that up. "
"Don't go there, Maes," Roy said. "I was just there for breakfast and spotted Miss Grumman here sitting at the table with her eggs and breakfast wine."
"Breakfast wine? What's that?" Gracia asked.
"A wine you have first thing in the morning," Riza said, earning a low chuckle from Roy. "Mister Mustang asked to join me since he was having breakfast as well. Then, we encountered the guy that stole your phone and thought it was you. We chased him and ended up in the hoard of photographers and reporters."
Maes laughed. "I wouldn't run, and why would I hide behind a bush?"
"Why wouldn't you hide behind a bush?" Gracia said dryly. She looked at Riza and Roy. "What's this about an engagement? Bet Maes had something to do with that too."
Riza explained the situation. When she got to the part that involved Maes, his mouth dropped open. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "My humor and my sister are to blame for this. You have no reason to apologise." She turned to Roy, "I do need to apologise to you though. You don't deserve this circus."
Roy shrugged. "There are worse people to be paired with."
"So, you two can just have your companies release statements stating you two are just friends. You're both famous and understand each other. Just tell the truth."
"The problem with that is the media still won't buy it," Roy said. "We'll do that but it won't stop the barrage for a while."
"Or you can let everyone think you are in a relationship," Maes said. Everyone looked at him, wide-eyed.
"Why the hell would we do that?" Roy asked.
"The movie. Have you two talked about it?"
Roy moved his hand to his head and sighed. "Maes, the last thing on my mind was that movie."
"Same here," Riza said. "Though it won't ruin our careers, these dating rumors—"
"Would be a fantastic asset if you two accepted the roles."
Roy lowered his hand and Riza could see he looked intrigued. She begrudgingly admitted she was as well.
"Always in manager mode," Gracia said with a shake of her head.
"How would it be an asset?" Riza asked.
Roy glanced at her. "Wonder if you'll regret asking that."
"You two are the most famous people in Amestris. If you two were involved and filmed a romantic movie…"
"A real life couple filming a romance would bring even more attention," Gracia finished for him.
"Exactly! It would be even more likely to be a huge hit," Maes said.
"If we accepted those roles," Riza said. "The movie wouldn't be out until next year. Are you trying to suggest we stay in a fake relationship for a year?"
"Why not? You're both so famous and busy that you don't date. You two are boring in that aspect."
Riza would've been offended if it weren't the truth. She hadn't heard too much about Mustang dating in the media either.
"Yeah," Roy said with a sigh.
"You'd just have to let the paparazzi spot you a few times each month. You two would be good friends at least."
"That would be no different than the women I have dated in the past."
"Yes, it would," Maes said. "It's not real dating, and it's not like Riza needs your fame. She got here on her own. So nothing would be said about her regarding that."
That made her think about the past and her anger spiked. "Except from him."
Roy looked at her, surprised. "No, forget it. I'll have the PR at the company handle it, Maes. You take care of Mustang's situation. We'll just say there was a potential project in the making and the only time we had was morning to talk about it. We were possible coworkers."
"Were? You aren't going to accept the movie?" Roy asked.
"No, I think after all of this it's best to keep our distance," she said, meeting his darker gaze. She immediately regretted her words when she saw hurt in it. She couldn't believe this nice guy in front of her would say what he did in the past.
The way she was acting now was even more reason why she shouldn't act with him. She looked back at Maes. "Get better soon," she said. "I'll have Armstrong call my driver." She left the room.
"Well, shit," Maes said and looked at Roy. "Go after her, idiot."
"Why?" Roy asked.
"Come on, pity a hurt man. Convince her to take the role."
Roy sighed. If his manager hadn't looked so pathetic, he might have denied the request. He left the room, walking at a quick pace.
"Hey, Miss Grumman, wait!"
Riza stopped and turned, surprised to see he was coming after her but making sure not to let it show on her face.
"Something you wanted?"
He stopped in front of her. "What's with the arctic chill now? I thought we were getting along pretty well."
"Yes, we were."
"I'll talk with the head of my company as well. We'll deny the rumors, but I'd really like to work on that film with you. If you aren't going to take it then I won't either."
"Why would you turn down a great film because of me?"
She saw a light red tinge appear on his cheeks. Mustang didn't seem the type to blush, but it looked like she was wrong. "I was looking forward to possibly working with you. I like your work ethic."
Another shot of anger rushed her. "Don't pee in my ear and claim it's raining," she snapped.
"What do you mean by that?" His tone was the angriest she'd heard it so far.
"I mean," she said, "that you said I only got where I was because of my grandfather. It's hypocritical to say that about me and now you want to work with me."
"I did not say that!" he said. "I've wanted to clear that up for years! Dante did the report at the time. It was before she went by that name. "
Riza knew of her, that bitch lied on everyone she interviewed until it got to the point she could do nothing else but make up sources and stories about various celebrities. "Now everything makes sense," she said her anger deflating. She sighed. "I feel like an idiot. I'm sorry."
Roy shook his head. "I think I would've acted the same way to be honest. It's more my fault. I should've contacted proper reporters and deny that I said those things, but I got so busy. It was around the time my career boomed. Both of us were rather new to the fame thing too."
"Yes, we were."
Roy walked over to a line of chairs and sat down. He patted one next to him and she took a seat. "Look, this movie is going to be huge. It would be a mistake for us not to do these roles. When Maes gets out of the hospital, let's all have a meeting and discuss it and our situation. At least before we make any sort of decisions or statements to the media."
"So you want to pretend to be together until then?'
He shrugged. "Why not? We are hanging out today after all."
She chuckled. "That's true. Okay, I'll go along until we all can discuss things."
He extended his hand to her. "Deal, Miss Grumman."
She took his hand. "You can call me Riza."
"And you call me Roy."
They shook hands.
