Title: Untitled
Author: Esmuerla (Emera D'Anae and Sull89)
Chapter Title: Dance With Me
Chapter Written By: Emera
Summary: It's Christmas in Amestris and even the military is delighting in the holiday. During the annual Christmas party, four people will face love, responsibility, joy, worry, and pain all in one night. Things escalate when the Fuhrer makes an announcement that scatters his troops and sends Roy, Riza, Ed, and Winry South.
Pairings: Ed/Winry, Roy/Riza, slight Maes/Gracia, mentions of Havoc/Sheska
Genre: Romance, Angst, Action (in later chapters)
Notes: Well, it's taken me a month and 4 days, but here's chapter two. A bit more fluff between our couples, but the good stuff comes next chapter (which will probably be written by the incredibly talented Sull) so stay tuned! (And leave us nice reviews. We are review whores. Please?)
---
"You have a point, Sir." Riza said, smiling at Roy. "We need to breathe some life into it." She looked at the people milling around, not really knowing what to do. When her eyes returned to Roy's face, she saw he was smiling. "I think we can drop the formalities a little today, hmm?" He offered, his grin widening as he spoke.
Ed looked for Al, having lost sight of him again, and finally spotted him crouching half under an empty table. "What are you doing?" Ed half yelled, bouncing off the table he had been leaning against to stand fully. Ed could see Al stiffen at his brother's voice. "Nothing, brother!" Al responded, his head still under the table. Ed's eyes widened at Al's nervous tone and he began walking towards his younger brother. "Alphonse…" He said upon reaching his target. Al removed his head from underneath the table to look up at Ed, "Yes, brother?" Ed crossed his arms, trying his best to look commanding. "What are you doing?" Ed repeated, hoping to get an answer from his brother this time. "Uhh… well, I found a box."
A slight blush crept over Riza's cheeks and she nodded. "Yes, si-" She cut herself off with a laugh. "Alright." Roy smiled at her a moment longer before his attention turned to someone standing behind her. "Well, well, well, look who's arrived." Roy said as Havoc walked over. He shot his superior a sly smile and Roy continued speaking, "So, Havoc, who's this girlfriend I've been hearing so much about?" He asked, looking around for said female.
Ed sighed heavily. "Al, you do know we can't keep them, right? Just like every other time you've found them." Al nodded and Ed could swear he heard his younger brother emit a small, sad sigh. "I know, Brother." At that, Al tugged the box out from under the table. "I just thought maybe we could find someone here who could keep them. There are a lot of people..." Ed let his arms fall from their crossed position across his chest and his eyes softened considerably. "You're right, Al. It's worth a try."
Havoc blinked a few times in response to Roy's question, then he saluted with a grin on his face. He stepped to the side slightly and tugged on the hand of the woman behind him. "You know Sheska, I think." He said. The woman smiled nervously at Roy, who blinked at her in return. "Sheska?" He laughed now, not having expected to see the bookworm. "Well, congratulations then." Havoc's grin widened and he nodded. "Thanks." He had no more time to say anything else, however, as Sheska pulled him in the other direction upon seeing Winry.
Al could barely restrain himself from glomping his older brother. "Thank you, brother!" He exclaimed happily. Ed laughed at Al's childish enthusiasm. "No problem, Al." He said with a grin. Al began looking around for people to take the kittens. When he returned his gaze to Ed, Al noticed he was glancing at Winry. Al nudged Ed lightly. "Go on, Brother. I can handle this. You should have some fun. Besides, Winry's here and I know you're happy to see her."
Sheska ran over to Winry happily, Havoc at her heels as she pulled him along behind her. Winry noticed her friend and she smiled happily. "Sheska!" Winry hugged the other girl when she was within reach. "I didn't know you would be here!" Sheska hugged Winry back, finally releasing her grip on Havoc's wrist, laughing. "Neither did I, to tell you the truth! Jean just called me a few days ago and asked if…" Sheska paused, blushing slightly, "…I'd like to go with him."
Roy watched Sheska drag Havoc off with an amused look on his face. "It's about time he found someone. Getting rejected all the time was affecting his duties. I would have never thought of Sheska though." He finished by shaking his head. Riza nodded, "I agree. Although, according to him, you're the reason he kept getting rejected." She shot Roy a curious look and found he had a cocky smirk on his face. "Sheska could be good for him." Roy shrugged. "Perhaps." At that moment, festive music began playing and Roy's smirk grew into a grin as he turned to Riza. "Do you dance?"
"You and Jean?" Winry clarified, looking back and forth in slight confusion between Havoc and Sheska. She broke out into a large grin and hugged Sheska again. "Aww, I'm so happy for you!" Sheska sighed, relieved, and then straightened up. "Thank you, Winry." Sheska turned her head and smiled at Havoc. "I never would have though it myself, but he is really sweet." Sheska finished, leaning forward and winking as she finished speaking.
"I don't know, Al." Ed let his eyes slide back to Winry as he thought. He sighed, returning his gaze to Al. "Maybe you're right. I'll go talk with her." Ed braced himself momentarily, then made his way over to Winry and Sheska. Sheska noticed him just before Winry did. "Looks like someone wants to talk with you!" She said with again, grabbing hold of Havoc's wrist and dragging him off again, shouting "We'll see you!" over her shoulder as she went.
Riza looked at Roy. Her startled look quickly turned into a warm smile. "I haven't lately, but I can try." She brushed the back of her skirt smooth nervously and Roy smirked at her, holding out his hands. "Don't tell me you're nervous." Riza returned Roy's smirk with one of her own. "Me? Nervous?" She asked, placing her hands in Roy's and shaking her head, "I don't think so." Roy nodded to Riza as they began dancing, a lopsided grin still on his face. "Well good, I thought you might try to back out on me."
Winry smiled at Ed as he approached her. "I was wondering if you'd forgotten about me." Ed raised his eyebrows at her comment. "Forget about you?" He stopped to shake his head, "I don't think so, Win'. I just had to make sure Al wasn't doing something he shouldn't be and-" Ed stopped himself at the look on Winry's face, realizing he'd been babbling. He turned his eyes to the ground, then out to look at the people around them. "What do you think so far?"
Riza looked Roy in the eyes, challenging his words with some of her own, "I've never backed out on you before, have I?" With that, she squeezed Roy's hand gently, almost unnoticeably. "Why would now be any different?" That seemed to be enough of a reason for Roy, who just smiled at her and continued dancing quietly. Riza returned his smile and he swung her away from him and quickly back, whirling her in a circle before they returned to their original position.
Winry looked around, contemplating an answer before answering, "It's pretty nice, for a military party." Ed nodded, "I'm glad you think so." She grinned now, letting her eyes rest on Ed. "What about you?" Ed shrugged slightly before responding. "I'm not much for State gatherings, but this one isn't so bad." He paused slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper as he spoke, "Especially since you're here now." Winry looked intently at Ed for a moment, then grinned. "Hey, you wanna dance?" She asked, bouncing off the table she had been leaning on. Ed started, a surprised look on his face. "I don't know, Winry, I've never really danced before-" Ed cut himself off, pushing off the table as well, resolve on his face, "but I guess there's a first time for everything, huh?" He held his hand out to Winry now, "Come on."
"You know," Roy started during a decline in the intensity of the song, "for someone who hasn't danced in awhile, you're not bad." He complimented with a grin. Riza responded with a short laugh. "Thanks. I'm assuming that you're definitely not out of practice." Roy laughed with her in response. "I try." Riza grinned slightly and took a step inward, closing the distance between her and Roy slightly.
Winry looked at Ed, slight shock on her face at Ed's acquiescence. After a moment, however, she smiled and took his hand and he lead her to the dance floor. "If it makes you feel any better, I've never danced before either." Ed stopped when they reached the floor and turned to Winry. "Yeah, it does, a little." He hesitated slightly as he put his other arm around her waist. Winry noticed his hesitation and grinned, trying to calm him down, "Come on, Ed, loosen up. It's just a dance." Ed sighed almost nervously, "I know, Winry, but I'm not good in social… situations." He turned his head to glare at Roy for a moment, "Especially not with people like him around." Winry fought the urge to roll her eyes at Ed, "Oh, come on, Ed! Don't be so hung up on Roy."
Roy looked over Riza's shoulder and noticed Ed and Winry dancing awkwardly. A devious smile on his face, he lead Riza closer to them, and when he got close enough he spun Riza away from him, simultaneously tripping Ed up ever so slightly, pushing Ed and Winry closer together before pulling Riza back to him. Ed, who had been about to answer Winry, tripped up and fell into Winry slightly, brushing up against her momentarily before righting himself. He blushed at the close contact, but they both adjusted so they could dance comfortable.
Riza raised her eyebrows at Roy, "Being nice to FullMetal for once?" She whispered. Roy shrugged in response, "He looked like he needed help." Riza grinned. "I always knew you'd do something like that." Roy gave Riza a strange look before responding again. "It was a one time thing." Riza smiled, shaking her head as she did. "Of course, sir."