-.-.-.-.-. notes -.-.-.-.-.-.-
I do not own FMA, nor do I wish to. Seems like it'd be a lot of trouble. I'm just writing for fun, no money is being made.
For anyone reading on a mobile device with an app that has a broken 'Review' option; story ID is : 11778669
This chapter is a General rating, language.
italics are inside thoughts.
-.-.-.-.-. story -.-.-.-.-.-.-
They'd decided to go out to the pub and catch up with Fullmetal. Aside from Hawkeye, the crew hadn't seen him since he'd quit the military and started up work as freelance alchemy repair tech... or some such, and that was weeks ago. Mustang wasn't quite sure what the hell the new job was, they'd get specifics tonight anyway. Also, it was the last day Alphonse was in town before heading home to Resembool to see Winry, so a party was in order.
Hawkeye had prepped most of it, for some reason her and Ed had been spending a lot of time together in the last few months. It puzzled the General because their relationship seemed platonic, not romantic. Yet they'd go out together constantly. Maybe he'd figure that out tonight too.
They were going straight from work so they had the whole evening. Al and Ed would be meeting them at the pub. He was pretty sure Hawkeye had a gift, her bag was full, but she didn't tell the rest of them to get anything so he hadn't. They'd gathered together before walking over. Everyone was in a pretty good mood, work was done for the day and soon they'd be drinking with friends.
Five minutes into the walk, Hawkeye started a story from her academy days. It seemed a little contrived, but it was a fun story. She'd been out with friends and saw some cross dressers roaming the streets, so when her class had arrived at the bar, they decided to have a competition to see which man could look the most like a woman. The story ended with everyone being booted from the bar for mischief and scattering before the police were called to avoid expulsion from the academy. The funny part was that she'd gone to school with Falman's cousin, and he'd won the competition. The mental image had most of them in tears.
They arrived at the pub in high spirits, spotting Ed and Al immediately. Mustang ordered a round of drinks and met everyone at the table. Beer would help get him answers.
Soon enough the crew was thoroughly sloshed except Hawkeye. Mustang had slowed down a little. He still hadn't learned what Hawkeye had in her bag or why her and Ed had been spending so much time together. The beer was inhibiting his sleuthing skills.
Suddenly, or not so suddenly judging by the look on her face, Hawkeye suggested they try that thing from the story she told on the way over. She asked loudly to the table of drunks if any of them were man enough to put on a dress and have a beauty pageant. Mustang was immediately suspicious. This was way too orchestrated, something was up.
His team of idiots signed up quickly though. Havoc, Falman, Breda, Edward, Fuery, and Alphonse all wanted in, after all, their manhood had been challenged. Mustang declined, cross dressing and possible demotion if caught just wasn't an option. He was expected to be professional in all situations.
Hawkeye put names in a hat and drew to see who was first.
Falman!
The team erupted in cheers and Mustang learned what was in Hawkeye's bag. Dresses. Several thrift store dresses. She handed one to Falman to change into, giving him makup and a hairbrush as well.
Ten minutes later he came out looking, as expected, like a very large man in a dress and costume makeup. The team lost it. Shrieking with laughter and ordering another round. It was a good thing Hawkeye had gotten a side room so they could avoid bothering the other patrons.
The master of ceremonies pulled another name. Breda was up next with another dress from Hawkeye's bag. More makeup, more beer. Mustang had to admit, they were having a really great time. Maybe the clothes were just a game she wanted to relive her youth with. He started to relax, that is, until he noticed she wasn't really reading names from the hat. Just picking whomever she thought should be next. And also that Fullmetal was getting more and more anxious, it seemed the boy had sobered up a bit during Falman and Breda's modelling act.
Mustang was distracted again though, as Havoc, Fuery, and Alphonse were next up in that order.
Finally Fullmetal was up and Mustang couldn't help but notice that the kid was practically vibrating with anxiousness. He stood up and Hawkeye handed him her whole bag. His team cheered again, though he noticed that both Al and Hawkeye were giving him supportive, encouraging looks. Mustang's slightly muddled brain was just not able to put the pieces together.
Taking a deep breath, Fullmetal slammed back the rest of his beer and all but ran to the bathroom with Hawkeye's bag. He noticed Al and Hawkeye exchange a grin and settle themselves in to wait.
It took Ed longer to change but no one seemed to notice except the General. When the room to their section opened everyone turned to look and froze in place.
There was a blonde bombshell standing in the doorway. Her long wavy hair flowing over her shoulders, she'd done her eye makeup and lipstick. The dress was a very shapely knee length spring number, tailored and perfectly accenting her figure.
No one spoke. The only sound was from Havoc who had managed to take a drink right before Ed had opened the door and was now coughing his lungs out off to the side.
Finally Havoc recovered from his shock. "Uh, hi Ed. You… um… has this?... you know… since forever?"
Ed nodded.
Silence.
"Come sit down Ed. I think they all have questions for you." Ed nodded again at Hawkeye but made sure to sit between her and Al to use as a protective shield.
The questions came all at once after she'd taken her seat. Everyone but Mustang was firing their inquiries from every corner. Al and Riza were helping to answer as much as they could but even still, they were all there until early into the morning.
Eventually everyone said their goodbyes to Ed and Al and headed home, but not before making Ed promise to visit the office more often. Then it was only four of them left.
Mustang finally spoke, "Ed, I'd like to speak to you alone for a moment."
Al and Riza exchanged another look as Ed nervously agreed and they left for a quiet section of the bar.
Taking a seat, Mustang broke the silence that had gathered in their short walk. He looked her over and before she could feel too self conscious he spoke, "You look good Ed."
She smiled, "Thank you."
Silence fell again for a few minutes. "Ed I'm sorry."
That shocked her, she had been expecting anger, "What?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not figuring it out myself. I'm sorry for sending you out on some of those missions. Not all of course, but a lot of them. You shouldn't have had to-"
She'd been getting angrier with him with every passing second, "What?! What are you even talking about? Are you joking? Are you really telling me right now, that if you had known i was a woman, you would have treated me completely different?"
Mustang didn't look up.
"You utter bastard." She was practically hissing at him, "I'm not weaker for being a woman. You misogynistic prick!" She stood up to leave but he caught her arm and looked up at her, "No Ed, I didn't mean it like that. I meant the cases where the killer was looking for women. Where you would have been at risk."
She relaxed a bit, "I'm still just as strong as I was before you found out."
"I could have killed you Ed! I could have sent you into some area where you were the direct target and you could have been killed!" he looked away from her, "Oh my GOD! Those times you were kidnapped because you were the military's prodigy?!" He was talking more to himself than Ed, "A young boy gets beaten, a young girl…" Mustang looked sick to his stomach.
Ed squeezed his hand, "I'm fine Roy. I lived. I'm strong. Al's back in his body. Everything's ok now."
Mustang took a deep breath to try and calm himself.
"Look" She wasn't sure where this was going to go, but it was late. "You know I'm staying in town. How about you sleep on it and I'll come by tomorrow after you're done your paperwork. We can talk more then without the booze in our systems."
He nodded.
Ed called Hawkeye and her brother over. "Riza, i'm going to spend some time with Al before his train in a few hours. I'll come by tomorrow after work and talk to Mustang at the office."
She knew she was running away, but she needed time to think about his reaction. He hadn't been angry like she'd expected, but was guilty and upset better?... Likely not.
Al, Mustang and Riza said their goodbyes before the siblings left together. The military duo could hear their bickering all the way out of the bar,
"You just had to get a train at 7am!"
"Shut it Ed, I didn't know we'd be drinking all night!"
"Of course that was the plan. Duh!"
"I might not be a big suit of armour anymore but I can still kick your ass."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT YOU FLESHY TIN CAN?!"
"Ed that doesn't even make sense."
Mustang smiled a bit. That was still the same Ed attitude.
He convinced Hawkeye to let him have one last shot before they left the bar, his thoughts weren't going to get any clearer anyway.
-.-.-.-notes-.-.-.-
AN: I'm probably spelling a few names wrong. Just realised that now and don't really want to go back and spell check. Also, no idea what formatting is going to look like on this, hopefully not too bad. If it's terrible I'll take it down and redo.
