-.-.-.-.-. notes -.-.-.-.-.-.-
I do not own FMA, nor do I wish to.
I wrote and edited this one this morning. The idea had been kicking around in my head for a while so I think it was easy to write out. I have a few more ideas left, some partially written, they're failing at the end and i need to figure out how to finish them.
There's an extra chapter to this over at Ao3 if anyone's over 18 and interested.
I'd also like to thank my one reviewer that's written nice things about all my chapters. THANK YOU! Hopefully this chapter lives up to your standards.
General rating. Language.
italics are inside thoughts.
-.-.-.-.-. story -.-.-.-.-.-.-
Night had fallen and finally the General had finished his paperwork for the week. He'd stayed at work late tonight so he could have Friday off and he was excited for the free day with nothing to do but sleep, eat, and delve into some alchemy books he'd picked up on his previous trip to the shops. Standing and stretching he decided to go for a walk around the grounds before heading home, the cool crisp air crawling in through the window had pulled mischief from his brain, maybe he could garner secrets from other late workers. Trading his military blue for a long black jacket he set off around the grounds in search of juicy information.
In the dark courtyard he could see into lit up windows easily, Colonel Tsi's wife had brought him coffee late at night again, they preferred having sex in his office to their home and while that fact was widely known, Mustang was sure he was the only one that knew the receptionist joined them, frequently. A few windows down Lieutenant Huff was staying late to repair the phone line in his boss's office again, but Mustang already knew Huff sabotaged the phone just to stay late with the repair man. He shook his head and kept walking, one day that man's technically challenged superior would figure out that phones needed to be plugged in to work.
This was all boring, nothing new to see tonight. Mustang turned to head home and was knocked off his feet by a cadet rounding the corner of the barracks. It was clear the cadet didn't recognise him in the black coat, "Oops. Sorry about that," he helped Mustang back to his feet, "We're going to be late, come on." The man took off down the side of the dorms and Mustang followed. This might be interesting.
Walking after the cadet Mustang noticed that along the wall all the lights were out. In every window. Odd. As he walked farther a single lit window came into view, as well as quite a few cadets staring into it, the mass of people outside explained why there were no lights inside. He saw that they'd arranged themselves far enough away not to be seen by the room's occupant and had made sure to stay out of the light spot the bulb on the inside created. Approaching the huddle he noticed the window contained a blonde woman in the shower and Mustang was immediately glad he'd followed the cadet. As they stood there watching a small tick started to twitch at the back of his brain; and no, it wasn't that they were invading this woman's privacy, or that she was in the male dorms. Something else, something the slowly fogging window was hiding from him.
"We've been trying to figure out how they do it, how they get a girl in and out without anyone noticing." The cadet from earlier was beside him.
"How who does it?"
"The Elrics." Mustang's blood froze in his veins but the cadet continued unaware of the General's reaction beside him. "This woman is there every night they are. I think she's with Fullmetal because if he stays out at the library then she doesn't show up."
Silence fell again and eventually the window fogged up too much to see anything, the cadets wandering off back to their rooms. Mustang stayed frozen in place. Was that really Fullmetal? It was harder to tell now that he'd got his real arm back but he was pretty sure with the placement of the window and where the floor would be inside, the height would be correct. The hair colour was definitely correct and while the eyes hadn't been visible, Mustang was pretty sure he'd seen scars on the right shoulder before the window fogged up too much to see.
The light turned off and snapped him out of his thoughts. One easy way to figure this out. He turned and marched into the dorms.
Alphonse answered the door, Mustang could tell the boy was shocked to see him. Nervous even. "May I speak to Fullmetal?"
"He's just getting out of the shower." Alphonse ran over to the bathroom door. Mustang stepped inside and closed the door behind him while watching every detail, had the boy just stopped the bathroom door from opening?
"Ed, the General is here to see you."
A string of curses flew from the room followed by, "Tell that bastard to go home, it's after hours."
"I'm not leaving Ed, I need to speak to you."
More curses, lots of shuffling. Al stepped away and finally Ed emerged dressed in a t-shirt and boxers. "What the fuck do you want?"
Mustang looked him over, there was the slightest hint of bandages under the t-shirt but he didn't need any more proof than knowing Ed had been the one in the shower.
Just to make sure though, "Are you two the only two people in this dorm room?"
"Yes! What the fuck kind of question is that? You came here this late to-"
"Ed!" The command was sharp and clear.
Ed shut up.
"There were a group of cadets outside just now."
Ed looked at the door in confusion, "Who the fuck cares if-"
"Outside your bathroom window." Mustang remained calm, watching their reactions.
Alphonse looked shocked then scared. He ran to the bathroom and they could feel the zap as the window was turned into a wall, then ran back passed them and outside to check his work from the other side.
Ed's face was always easy to read and the General watched as Fullmetal's thoughts raced across. Checking off each item in a predictable list.
Cheeks turning red: Embarrassment from being seen
Eyes down, grimace turned inward: Stupidity of not thinking about the window
Frowning, eyes at the door: Anger at the cadets
Frowning, eyes wider and focussed on him: Guilt for not telling him the secret
Clenched teeth, eyes narrowed, still on him: Anger at-
"You sonofabitch! You just stood out there and watched?!"
He sighed, "Fullmetal, I was out there for two seconds. The window fogged up and I came straight here." Mostly the truth.
She stared at him, the blush returning to her cheeks. "Liar."
He ignored it, "The cadets think you have a girlfriend you sneak in and out. They can't figure out how you do it so maybe just tell them you broke up." He let that sit for a second, "In exchange for my silence I want your name and age." Not a steep price but he would have kept the secret anyway.
Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know I'm not the same age?"
Mustang's eyes flicked to the bathroom before he could stop himself. There's no way the body he saw was as young as she professed.
"I knew it. You're such a pervert." Taking a deep breath she looked him straight in the eyes, " I'm 20, and my name is Edaline."
The General nodded, "Report to my office Monday, I have a mission for you." Then he turned and left almost running into Alphonse who'd been hiding behind the door and was clearly avoiding the conversation. As the door closed he heard Al asking for details and Ed fall into a chair grumbling to herself.
Only when he arrived home did he realise he had a new problem: the image of the beautiful blonde in the shower would not leave his head. Edaline Elric, aged 20. Long hair, gold eyes, smooth skin covered in soap bubbles… Fucking dammit! Once again Fullmetal had managed to ruin his weekend without even trying. How the hell was he supposed to sleep now?
