A/N: Tried to write a little something for this ship... I hope this is good enough, especially because I'm currently very tired :'v
Please don't send hate comments!
"Good to see you're liking the job."
"Ed," Noah smiles, her enthusiasm subtle, only for him to see.
"Hey." Ed clears the strange taste in his throat. It's not a bad taste, though. "Thought I'd pass by and see how you're doing."
"I'm doing just fine."
Ed smiles though he might frown when he notices Officer Hughes flirting with Gracia.
"He's… not bothering you anymore, right?" He questions.
"Oh no, it's okay." Noah looks behind her, still smiling. "He and Miss Gracia do make a cute couple."
Ed hums sadly. At any point he'd find the two love birds endearing. Then again, they're not the same people Ed knew, and after everything that happened, he isn't quite welcoming of the official. He's at least glad he stopped bothering Noah so much.
Noah looks… happy here, for that matter. She's living with the Elrics as of now, but they live with their own daily lives. But with the war and everything else, Ed can only worry about her feeling welcome at all.
"Ed?"
He shakes his head. "Ah, hey. Hi."
"You always have so much in your mind… do you want to talk about it?"
Ed rubs the back of his neck, feeling some of his long ponytail.
"It's really nothing. I'm just being a worrywart like Al tells me," he jokes.
Noah doesn't laugh.
Ed sighs. "Sorry."
"For what?"
"I guess… everything. I didn't want you getting in all that mess."
"It wasn't your fault." Noah looks down. "I'm not exactly blameless here."
Ed looks back. "What do you mean?"
"I looked into your thoughts because I wanted too badly to find a dream. I hurt you in the process." Noah shuts her eyes. "I chose to steal your knowledge for my own selfish needs."
Despite the harsh experiences, the eighteen-year-old reminds, "I think everyone was to blame."
Although he doesn't say more, Noah seems to understand it. Ed gets how she feels, especially as his little brother might deal with the blame time and time again. It's not an easy reminder, that we all have responsibility in this world.
"I should've told you about my world, too," Ed admits. "The military wanted to eliminate everyone with a different skin color…"
"Is that so?"
He nods. "Maybe the worlds aren't the same… but they're still parallels. They're real." He thinks of Alfons and his choice.
Ed and Noah remain quiet, probably thinking the same.
"I think… we should also be open to one another," she concludes, "if we want to look after the world."
"Yeah. Well, on our own pace," he adds, thinking of her situation.
Noah smiles again. Ed really… likes it when she smiles. It's always genuine.
"Anywaaay… I think I should get going. And get Al out of the house," Ed complains, "he gets way too excited about which clothes to wear."
She gives out a silent laugh, and Ed's stomach feels like he's in clouds. "Right."
"Yeah. Right." Ed swallows a cough. "I'll…"
"Oh, wait! I have something to give you."
"Oh, really?"
She heads to the back of the store. When she returns, she's holding a vase of yellow flowers.
"Aw, thank you," Ed grins. When he's about to grab the money, she stops him.
"It's on the house," she says.
"Wait, really? I can—"
"Don't worry. Miss Gracia will understand."
"Well, okay," Ed shrugs and smiles. "Thanks, again."
He notices, though, that Noah looks away briefly. Is she… nervous?
"If you don't mind…" the woman whispers, "there's something else I want to give you, too."
"Oh, okay. What is it?"
He expects something material, but whatever it is, it surpasses all of his expectations…
Noah approaches the side of his face and she—
She kisses his cheek.
Ed almost, almost squeaks like he's a teenager getting a kiss from a girl.
Noah hands him the vase, still holding it for him in case he drops it – because his arms simply won't move.
"I'll see you later tonight, won't I?"
"Y… Y-Yeah…" Ed's face heats up. "Tonight…"
For once, Noah grins and leaves him with the vase of flowers, heading up to other clients that have arrived at the store. Gracia and Officer Hughes eye Edward with knowing looks.
Ed avoids them like the plague and climbs up the stairs to his apartment the fastest he can.
"Oh, hi, brother!" Alphonse exclaims, Ed almost forgetting about him. "I'm ready to- oh?"
The latter stands around like an idiot, realizing the former stares at the flowers given to him, until he finally moves to leave the flowers at the center of the dinner table.
"Those are nice flowers, brother," Al notes.
"Y-Yeah, right? Noah really understands flowers."
"Huh…"
Once Edward gazes at his brother, Alphonse is already staring at him with a smirk.
"… What?"
"Oh, nothing, brother."
Ed glares. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
"I didn't say anything," Al shrugs in an innocent tone.
"Well, you're not subtle at all."
"Neither are you, Ed. But you sure are still stupid."
"That's it, I'm leaving without you."
"Hey, come on, I was joking!"
"Dumbass."
"Look who's talking." Ed playfully shoves Al aside, his younger brother giggling.
"Let's go already or we're gonna be late!"
"Okay, I'm going!" Al grabs his things while Ed pretends to lock the door.
Before the two leave, Ed takes a look inside, finding the yellow flowers illuminated by the sun in the neutral-colored apartment.
He smiles and blushes.