Chapter Fourteen:
A week after the incident with meeting Katherine had caused Al and Ed both to be very careful around Kat, though not so much to make her feel uncomfortable in her surroundings. Though finally Ed had gotten the nerve to ask Kat if she'd like to go steady with him. Which before hand involved a lot of coaching from Al, Risa giving the advice of girls liking roses for the first date, as well for when he asks to go steady; as well as getting a lot of trouble from everyone at work. Hughes still couldn't seem to be able to stop bugging him about how cute their children are going to be. Ed would give him a nasty look reminding him that he had not yet popped the question of marriage.
Ed had been going through a lot of mental turmoil about how to deal with this situation, because obviously, he didn't want Kat to think that it was just some fling to help her feel better. Hearing from many of the ladies at work he'd heard that women hate it when men do them 'favors.' Also he'd have to wait to really see if he really did want to go steady with the girl. He loved Winry no doubt about it, but at the same time he had strong feelings for Kat as well.
Ed waits outside of Roy's office waiting to hear the latest lecture about how he needs to take care of his little baby cousin. Edward had taken him seriously at first but after the tenth time of hearing the same speech, it had gotten a little old. If he had to hear the little speech again he'd have to start treating him like Hughes.
"Come in Full Metal." Comes the dark heavy voice of the colonel, Ed gets up from his spot and walking into Mustang's office.
Ed quickly salutes his higher up and waits for him to do the same, after signing something, Roy salutes Ed and points to the couch, "Sit."
"You wanted to see me sir?" Ed looks warily at his commanding officer, sitting in one of the two couches.
"Yes, I have a mission for you." Roy gets out.
"I see… when do I need to go on leave?" Ed looks curiously.
"Tonight…" Roy looks to his subordinate with deadly serious eyes.
"WHAT? But tonight is-" Ed's rage quickly getting the best of him once more before hearing out his higher up.
"I understand that tonight that you and Kat have an arrangement but still you both are in the military and both of you have a job to do." Roy speaks up stoically organizing some paper work.
Ed punches the couch causing it no harm he turns away from the colonel grumbling to himself.
"Though you'll have an officer going with you." Roy points out.
Roy only seemed to add fuel to the flam in Ed's eyes, "Since WHEN do I need any help from anyone else, since I have Al here?"
Roy smiles knowing he'd struck a nerve. "Well he suggested it since he said he would be staying here, checking out the library, things like that." Roy smiles all the more now that he fully has Full Metal's attention. Roy lowers his eyes to the paper work; "He had suggested someone to go with you but if you really feel that wa-"
"Who'd he suggest?" Ed glares knowing this is most likely not going to be good.
"Well he had suggested Flower for the job, but if you really feel that you want your brother there for you…." Roy looks up smiling.
Ed looks at Roy and smiles, "Well I guess just this once Al won't mind too terribly much if I go on a mission with out him. But you better take care of him Colonel!" Ed points accusingly to Roy, who only nods in response.
"Of course." Roy smiles, leaning back in his chair. Getting some paper work he gives it to Ed, "Could you give this to her?"
"Of course!" Ed smiles, saluting his higher up leaving the older man's office. After leaving head quarters, Ed looks over the papers, looking for the reason for this sudden mission. 'Check up, oh fun….' Ed mentally grumbles.
Though the mission seems 'lame' in Ed's eyes he knew all too well what this check up was really for. This was Mustangs way of approving Ed's method to help the poor distraught girl. It seemed like the most desperate way to do it, but that has been his forte for five no six years now, he'd been looking for the philosophizers stone, a way to make it with out using humans. He'd made so many breakthroughs it was so close he knew it would happen! As will this, Kat just needs some help from the man who found the word 'impossible' amusing.
Leaving the office Ed walks back to the apartment, thinking about how Kat's going to take having to go on a mission, scratching his head he sighs as he walks to the apartment. Trying to find a way to tell her and NOT sound excited seemed a little hard.
Finally making it to his door, sighing and opening the door he sees Al and Kat giggling with one another. "Hey guys." Ed smiles halfheartedly.
Kat looks up to Ed, "Hey, I know about the mission, Roy called, he told me that you have papers for me?"
Ed nods feeling a little more at ease now that Roy had done him the favor instead of having to lie through his teeth. Putting down the papers on the counter by the kitchen sink. "Yea… kinda stinks how the military can some how find a way to ruin your fun neh?" Ed smiles a little defeated.
"Well it's no big deal really…" Kat speaks up casually, working on the flowers Ed had given her when he'd first asked; she thought it was so sweet of him.
Thinking about the matter of them alone it worried Ed, she'd told him yes, but was this going to be a lets keep it slow kinda crap?
Kat looks at him seeing his distraught face, she giggles, "I mean when we go on this mission we can have our date." She plays with the flowers a little more before walking up to him. "Just because we're in the military doesn't mean that we can't be bendable to their needs right?"
Ed smiles lightly his face still a bit out of order, which only causes Kat to giggle all the more. She kisses him on the cheek and walks into her bedroom to get ready for their late train. Ed stands there stunned Kat having just kissed him, on the cheek but still. Putting his gloved hand to his cheek feeling the blush on his cheeks.
Ed quickly turns his head to Al hearing him giggle like the little innocent boy he is. "What!" Ed growls.
"Nothing!" Al giggles all the more, "I'll get your things ready brother." Al walks off.
Ed folds his arms, walking after his brother wanting to know what is so terribly funny? "Al come on what's funny? So she kissed me! I mean we ARE going steady now…." Ed thinks about what he'd just said for a moment, putting more of his cloths into his suitcase. The young alchemist knew if he was going to do this he really would have to choose between Winry and Kat. '…I better hurry up and make up my mind, or this'll drive me nuts choosing.'
"Ed!" Kat calls out waiting by the door.
Ed turns around seeing her at the door he finishes putting his things in his suitcase and walks to the door. "Gomen-ne."
"Well we better hurry come on!" Kat grabs Ed's hand pulling him to the train station.
Ed runs after her both waving to Al as they both leave for the train station. "You two have a good time!" Al gets out.
The two making it to the station quickly thanks to Kat and tuning a run to the station a race to the station instead, Ed of course won; he eventually ended up having to pull her hand to make sure she stayed close to him. By the time both made it to the train they were both exhausted.
Roy looks at the two of them obviously wanting to send them off. "And what were you two doing?" Roy looks at them suspiciously.
Ed leans forward holding onto his knees still a little out of breath, Kat giggles looking at Ed and Roy, "Racing…" Kat gets out.
"…" Roy looks at the two of them, finding it so cute how the two are acting. "You have the papers correct?"
"Yea…" Ed gets out standing strait up trying to keep his breath even. Saluting the Colonel, "Yes sir we have the papers, and your orders."
"Very good, Flower I hope you can keep Full Metal out of trouble correct?" Roy looks down his nose at the still exhausted girl she stands strait and salutes her cousin.
"Yes sir!" Kat looks serious for once that evening.
"You'll be taking care of Al correct Colonel?" Ed gets out one last time.
Roy rolls his eyes, "Yes, now stop worrying." Saluting the two he lowers his hand from his head allowing them to do the same. "I expect a full report from the both of you when you return."
"Yes sir!" Both speak up loudly.
"Dismissed." Roy leaves letting the two get on the train. "Ed you take care of her…" Roy gets out before passing him completely. Getting a nod from Ed Roy smiles as he continues on his way.
Both get on the train and while getting settled on the train Kat looks out with window for her cousin seeing that he's disappeared. "Where's Roy?" Kat looks around.
"He probably left, he has a lot to do remember, he's mister important." Ed grumbles knowing that Roy's returning to his former self the only change being the his cousin's around.
"Oh come on Roy's not that bad… Besides if he gives you trouble he has to answer to me remember?" Kat smiles at him. Ed still looks out the window wanting to grumble about how much Roy still sucks. Kat playfully punches Ed in the arm, making him simply move a little, "Come on you have to admit that it's funny."
Ed thinks about it, having the protection of Roy's cousin, no wonder everyone wanted to be close to her then they wouldn't have to feel as much of Roy's wrath. Ed smiles and looks at her, "yea…"
Lifting her legs up Kat looks out the window smiling to herself; her blue uniform fitting her well, her black hair accenting her slightly pale face. Ed smiles at her, "How old are you? Cause you look like you just turned ten." Ed laughs when Kat starts smacking his metallic arm, complaining about how he's so mean. She grumbles a little more when she remembers that his arm is made of metal instead of flesh. Ed snickers and takes a look at her fingers.
Kat still mentally grumbling about Ed's little joke she seems unable to notice the blush in Ed's cheeks. "Sorry…"
Kat looks at him, curiously, "I knew you were teasing… I just forgot about your… arm." Kat suddenly notices how close they are she begins to blush about the same color of Ed's jacket. Slowly pulling her fingers, and more importantly her hand away from Ed, both turning away from one another Kat looking at the walkway, blushing madly still. Ed looks out the window trying to hide his blush.
After a couple hours Kat had finally fallen asleep in her seat, resting her head on the table, Ed smiles at her seeing how innocent she still is, he didn't want her to lose that. He didn't want Winry to lose that either. He knew if Winry stayed with him that she'd lose it, then again everyone does eventually. He knew that this young woman would have to lose it one way or another. Though thinking about it in that way seemed so wrong.
Resting his elbow on the table between them putting his chin in his hand. He slowly pets her hair, thinking about it long and hard, he didn't want to hurt her. Remembering the day he'd found out how hurt he felt when Kat had been truly taken away, he'd stayed at home for three days that being the longest he'd stayed in the same place in that city in the longest time. He felt that some how he was responsible, he wanted to help out so much. Before he'd found out about the other one, he'd really started noticing things about her, things that truly said that he loved her.
Doing this, he'd hoped so much would be one way to keep her to himself, this Kat, not 'Katherine.' That woman frightened him on way too many levels. Looking at it now, really looking at it now, it seemed like such a hard thing because; he didn't want to break her heart. He'd never really felt this way before about anyone; he'd never felt the need to help someone else so much. He'd never felt the need to see her smile so badly. Leaning forward Ed kisses her forehead, smiling and wiping away any wetness left behind.
Ed quickly takes in a breath holding it, hearing her breath in deeply, moving slightly in her sleep. Hearing her breath even out slowly, Ed smiles slightly grateful for this opportunity to be able to move around and spend some time with Kat, even if Al HAD gone behind his back to do so.
Resting his head on the table Ed just looks at her, watching her through the night. Feeling his eyes grow heavy he tries to keep them open one way or another. He'd pulled all-nighters before he wasn't going to be defeated by sleep now. Ed looks at her sleeping form smiling gently, "Kat… I think I really am in love with you…" Ed gets out before submitting to darkness of sleep, his hand sliding down her cheek.
(TBC)
Trom: Isn't that just cute ?
Ed::Grins blushing:
Beautifulblood: Aww I don't think you're a baka! I just call myself that… . ;;; Still yes the hydrogen peroxide just rocks my socks XD!
Blue Flame Alcemist: Thanks so much, yes I'm a perv ; Though if you think about it, it kind of makes sense for such terrible memories what's the best thing to do first? Make really wonderful memories to cover the bad ones up. Though I'm no doctor so I wouldn't really know XD! It just sounds right to someone like myself XD;;;!
Ed: Perv….