I literally love the Hughes so much, I cri evry tiem.
When Linor entered the hall to the kitchen, the savory smell of food filled her nostrils and she could immediately feel her mouth water. Stepping into the kitchen, Gracia was placing several dishes out onto the dull, yellow tablecloth. Hughes sat in the seat closest to the hall with an empty chair next to him and Elicia was across the table from him, an empty seat next to her. When Gracia saw Linor standing in the hall entrance, the woman gestured to the table.
"Please, Major, have a seat anywhere." Leaving the seat next to her husband for her, Linor took the empty chair next to a young child who was giggling and playing footsies with her father under the table. Gracia set a quiche in the center of the table before putting a glass plate in front of Linor with a smile, following her was Elicia, Hughes, and the empty seat next to him. "Ok you two," She cooed, "Time for dinner."
"Yes, ma'am!" The goofy duo said in unison, sitting up straight in their seat and picking up their utensils.
"Go ahead and dig in, Major." Gracia insisted, helping Elicia get her portion.
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Hughes." Linor said politely, reaching for some of the quiche. When Linor went to snag some focaccia also, Gracia finally took her seat and began filling her plate as well.
"So, Major," Gracia began once everyone began eating. "How long have you been working with my husband?" The clacking of forks filled the brief silence as Linor scarfed her quiche down as civilly as she could.
"Well, Lieutenant Colonel and I-"
"Hughes," The man interrupted, making Linor flush.
"Mr. Hughes," She semi-corrected, figuring he was at least fine with that since he remained silent. "We've been working together for a few months now, but more so over the phone than in person."
"And you're a friend of Roy's as well?" Linor had to think about it for a moment, but Hughes piped in for her.
"Oh of course! Roy and her go way back," He exaggerated, "He was the one who recommended her into the military." Hughes explained, Linor embarrassedly and quietly insisting he was exaggerating, though her meek reply seemed to go unheard. "Maybe Linor here might be the one he settles down with." He joked, making Linor choke when she tried to protest with her mouth full. Gracia simply laughed lightly and Linor hastily tried to regain her composure.
"No, no," She hastily said, "Colonel Mustang and I don't have that kind of relationship."
"No need to be shy," Hughes poked, waving his fork with quiche on it and grinning at Linor's beat red face.
"Maes, dear," Gracia said semi-seriously, "Don't embarrass her." Listening to his wife, Hughes shoved the food in his smiling mouth.
"But I do owe him a lot," Linor replied, poking at her food. "I definitely wouldn't be here without him."
"Roy is a kind man, despite how much he and others deny it." Gracia praised, Linor humming in agreeance. The once silent child then leaned over towards Linor and looked intently at her plate.
"You don't have your greens," Elicia slurred with a pout, looking at a wide-eyed Linor. "You can't grow without your greens." She informed, her small finger pointing to the roasted asparagus.
"Wha- well, I…"
"Elicia is right, Miss Ziegler," Gracia pipped with a loving smile. "Growing boys and girls need their vegetables." Linor moved to open her mouth to explain she wasn't really a growing girl anymore, but the serious look on Elicia's expectant face made the words stop short. Pursing her lips into a helpless pout, Linor hesitantly plucked some stalks of asparagus and put them on her plate, sticking one and biting it in half. A very pleased smile graced Elicia's cute face.
"There you go! Greens are very good for you, that's what mommy says!" Despite not really being fond of most vegetables, Linor forced herself to eat the few stalks she put on her plate. "Here, have some more!" Elicia squealed, picking some asparagus off her own plate and putting it on Linor's.
"N-No, uh, that's alright, I'm getting pretty full."
"Elicia, darling, those are for you." Gracia piped in, making her daughter stop in her tracks. "How are you going to grow big and strong if you don't have any?" A look of realization crossed the child's face and she began picking her food back.
"You're right! Sorry, Musigler, these are mine." Confused for a moment, Linor laughed at her attempt to say 'Miss Ziegler'.
"That's alright, but you can call me Linor." Elicia looked at her a bit confused at the name, but Linor leaned in and whispered. "It's what my friends call me." Very pleased at making a new friend, Elicia nodded vigorously.
"Then you can call me Elicia!" The child beamed, shoving a big bite of asparagus in her mouth. Linor gave the child a nod of acknowledgment before the family began finishing their meal. Simple conversations followed, mostly about Linor, though thankfully nothing too personal- the Hughes family was very polite and kind. After Linor helped Gracia clear the table and wash dishes, Elicia playfully tugged on the alchemist's hand.
"Linor," The child whined, "Come play with me!" Gracia nodded to dismiss Linor from her clean up duties and the child tugged the woman into the family room where Hughes was sitting. "Let's play dolls!" Elicia suggested, or more so commanded, though Linor agreed nonetheless and sat crisscrossed on the floor across from her. Linor soon found that while Elicia was very sweet and cute, she was a bit bossy, at least when it came to playing dolls. Gracia soon joined the three in the living room, sitting on the couch next to Maes and small conversation left over from dinner resumed.
"Well, lately I've been helping Colonel Mustang more than focusing on my own career goals," Linor admitted when Gracia asked her what her plans for the future were. "I guess I feel like I have a debt to him." She blurted before thinking, surprised that she had said something so personal.
"I'm sure Roy would want you to pursue your own goals as well, Major." Gracia replied, leaning into her husband's chest. Linor looked down at the doll she was holding, but remained silent- aside from gaining status, she hadn't really thought about what she wanted to do with it; yes, she had a point to prove, and perhaps change the living conditions of her people when she could, but aside from that the thought hadn't crossed her mind.
"Linor," Elicia called when the woman had stopped playing.
"Oh, sorry, Elicia," The alchemist apologized, moving the doll around again. After a small silence, Elicia curiously looked up to Linor.
"Why are you always wearing those?" Elicia suddenly asked, pointing to the sunglasses on Linor's face. Hughes and Gracia were silent and Linor opened her mouth in alarm, fumbling on what she wanted to say. "Do they help you see like daddy?"
"Er, no," Linor muttered, fidgeting with the doll.
"You should take them off then." Uncomfortably shifting her stance, Linor looked over to Hughes who just gave her a shrug and a nod- assuring her that it was fine, only if she wanted to. Hesitating for a moment, Linor closed her eyes slowly and reached up to slide the glasses off her face. Fluttering her lids open to look at Elicia, she awaited the inevitable gasp but was greeted with a small giggle instead. "Your eyes are pretty," The child beamed, shocking Linor into silence. "Do you see them, mommy? Aren't they pretty?" She bellowed, Linor looking up to a gently smiling Gracia.
"Yes, darling, they're beautiful." Gracia replied earnestly, Hughes reclining silently with his own smile. Linor froze, a strange feeling constricting at her chest as the corners of her lips tugged forcefully up. Hearing Elicia call her once more, Linor gently resumed her activity, her hazy mind trying to think of a time when anyone who saw her eyes for the first time was so accepting. She couldn't think of a time anyone hadn't at least been somewhat shocked, let alone called her eyes pretty. Even if Hughes had warned his wife of who she was, she doubted he would have had Elicia choreograph her reaction- her compliment was genuine, her acceptance was real, and it was from a young, naïve child. It left Linor feeling the best she had in a while.